Cabernet franc is largely overshadowed by its more well known cousin Cabernet sauvignon. However is is widespread in France, the cooler regions of Europe and most wine producing countries.

The most common use for Cabernet franc is as a blending partner, often minor, in so called bordeaux blends. These wines are made from blends of Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet franc varieties, often with one or more of the less common bordeaux varieties Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.

The second use for the variety is as a varietal wine, made from at least 80% Cabernet franc.

The Difference between Franc and Sauvignon

As their names suggest these two wine grape varieties are related. Franc is the older variety, sauvignon seems to be its offspring. Cabernet franc ripens a little earlier and hence can be successful in slightly cooler areas than Cabernet Sauvignon. The Loire Valley and North Eastern Italy, both strongholds of the variety are cooler than Bordeaux.

Cabernet franc wines tend to be softer than sauvignon. They have more fruit flavours, especially raspberries and thus are more likely to be given less oak tratment.

Cabernet Franc in France

The variety is best known for its use in Bordeaux as a blending partner.

Less well known is Cabernet franc's role in varietal wines in France, particularly in the Loire Valley appellations of Bourgueil, Chinon and Saumur. It is also a component of the rose Appelation Cabernet d"Anjou in this region.

Cabernet Franc in Australia

The variety is used in a similar way to its use in France, mainly as a blending variety, but by quite a significant number as a straight varietal.

Is it an alternative variety? This is controversial. It's use as a blending partner is certainly not, but there is an argument that the use of the variety to make varietals is alternative.

Some Australian Wineries using Cabernet franc to make varietal wines in Australia

• Bests Grampians
• Black Swan Winery Swan Valley
• Bloodwood Orange
• Brairose Estate Margaret River
• Briarose Estate Margaret River
• Bulong Estate Yarra Valley
• Byrne and Smith McLaren Vale
• Chalk Hill Winery McLaren Vale
• Chatsfield Mount Barker
• Cofield Wines Rutherglen
• Cruickshank Callatoota Wines Hunter Valley
• Gapsted Alpine Valleys
• Goona Warra Vineyard Sunbury
• Grassy Point Coatsworth Wines Geelong
• Happs Margaret River
• Harcourt Valley Bendigo
• Hastwell and Lightfoot McLaren Vale
• Hay Shed Hill Wines Margaret River
• Heritage Estate Granite Belt
• Howard Vineyard Adelaide Hills
• Ibis Wines Orange
• Idlewild Hunter Valley
• Jarvis Estate Margaret River
• Jenke Vineyards Barossa Valley
• Kotai Estate Geographe
• Lane's End Vineyard Macedon Ranges
• Leabrook Estate Adelaide Hills
• Longview Creek Sunbury
• Louee Wines Mudgee
• Mardia Wines Barossa Valley
• Mount Avoca Pyrenees
• Mount Eyre Vineyards Hunter Valley
• Old Loddon Wines Bendigo
• Paracombe Wines Adelaide Hills
• Passing Clouds Bendigo
• Pepper Tree Wines Hunter Valley
• Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley
• Plantagenet Mount Barker
• Polleters Vineyard Pyrenees
• Portree Vineyard Macedon Ranges
• Redgate Margaret River
• Rimfire Vineyards Darling Downs
• Ross Hill Wines Orange
• Settlement Wines McLaren Vale
• Sharpe Wines of Orange Orange
• SpringLane Yarra Valley
• St Leonards Rutherglen
• Steels Creek Estate Yarra Valley
• Swooping Magpie Margaret River
• Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes
• Tamborine Estate Wines Queensland Coastal
• Tamburlaine Hunter Valley
• Truffle Hill Wines Pemberton
• Twelve Acres Nagambie Lakes
• Watershed Wines Margaret River
• Wild Dog Winery Gippsland
• Woodlands Margaret River

Cabernet Franc is one of 184 varieties described on De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table

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