Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely grown wine grape. Cabernet Sauvignon’s dominance reflects consumers’ insatiable desire for the grape and the red wine it produces. However, Cabernet Sauvignon is relatively new among the world’s grape varieties. Its popularity is due to its recent origin. While Cabernet Sauvignon was believed to be an ancient variety, DNA research conducted in the 1990s showed that Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t nearly as old as it was once thought. It has been around since the 17 th century. Even more surprising is that Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Cabernet Franc (a red variety) and Sauvignon Blanc (a green variety).
Cabernet Sauvignon’s origin is widely recognized in southwest France, in the vicinity of Bordeaux. It holds court alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec and, in rare cases, Carmenere. Combinations of three or more of these varietals are known as the Bordeaux Mix in Europe or a Selection in California. Researchers now believe that northern Spain, south of the Pyrenees Mountains, could one day claim the original location of the most important red grape variety on the planet. Bordeaux is right to claim that Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s most widely distributed red grape variety.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the heart of Bordeaux’s finest Medoc wines. It also plays a major role in almost all the best red wines from Graves. Chateaux Haut-Brion and Margaux are all Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is the King in Bordeaux, often blended with Merlot or other Bordeaux varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon, a red grape with thick skin, requires a longer maturation than other red grape varieties. This makes it an ideal choice for winemaking regions like Bordeaux, where the climate is variable.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a warm-tolerant variety that thrives in semi-arid climates. This is why it has been widely and successfully grown in Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Spain. Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly prized American varietal. It is California’s most sought-after red variety in terms of both price and consummate quality. The Napa Valley in California and its surrounding counties produce the best varietal Cabernet Sauvignons in the New World. But, Chile, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Spain all produce world-class Cabernet Sauvignons, which often offer higher quality and greater value.
The flavor profile of Cabernet Sauvignon is subject to climate and terroir. This premium variety is often associated with blackberry and blackcurrant flavors (often called cassis). Common aromas include cedar, graphite and tobacco, and earthy and herbaceous scents like cedar and eucalyptus. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most likely to age well of all red grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are also rich in antioxidants and resveratrol. These make them some of the healthiest on the planet and some of the most popular.