Cabernet Franc Wine
Cabernet franc wine is one of the major bordeaux varietals. The wines were originally grown in the Bordeaux region of France but since that period of time the grape has been grown in vineyards across the world. Some recent studies that use DNA fingerprinting have shown that cabernet franc is one of the parents of cabernet sauvignon. The other genetic parent is sauvignon blanc. Both cabernet sauvignon and cabernet france are among the five major grapes species of Bordeaux. There are slight differences between cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon that are able to become apparent when grown and fermented so close to each other.
Most major wineries will use the cabernet franc grape in combination with others to great great blends. A lot of good merlot wine will have some cabernet franc in it to smooth some of the flavors. The franc red wine can also be combined with cabernet sauvignon. Cabernet franc vines bear grapes with lower overall acidity, compared to cabernet sauvignon. The yields from the vines are similar, although cabernet franc normally ripens somewhat earlier in the season. Consequently, vineyards in climates where rain tends to call at harvest-time will often plant this grape. The will do it in place of or with cabernet sauvignon. This is also because Cabernet franc vines survive cold winters much better than cabernet sauvignon, but can be more susceptible to damage by frost in the spring.
The nation of France has the most cabernet franc vineyards of any wine producing country with over 35,000 acres. There are significant areas of cabernet franc grapes in St. Emilion, and the Loire Valley , and south west area of France. There are also cabernet franc vineyards in eastern countries of Romania, Hungary, and the Balkans. Even areas of north eastern Italy will produce franc red wine. Due to the popularity of the taste and consistency of the grape, new plantings occurring in the 1990s in Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. These new vineyards show great promise. In the United States, there are cabernet franc vines planted in Long Island, New York, and even in Washington State. But the most popular and extensive area is in California, which has about 2,000 acres. Many of these vines have been put in since 1980, and over half in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Depending on the vineyard practices where it is grown, the flavor profile of Cabernet Franc can sometimes be more herbal or earthy than Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine tends to be lighter in both color and tannins, somewhat similar to good merlot wine. There can be some over-cropping and underexposure that affect the grape. Cabernet france can typically be somewhat spicy in aroma and often remind people of plums and especially violets. That is why Cabernet Franc is more often used as a secondary or third element in blended red wines, which is why there are few pure cabernet franc wine.