Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is a red grape variety that originates in France and is often used together with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to create what is called a "Bordeaux blend or cut", to indicate the typical grape blend used in Bordeaux wines, term that has been exported and it is used all over the world.

In Italy, Cabernet Franc is widely found in the northeast, mainly in Friuli Venezia Giulia where, due to its diffusion and tradition, Cabernet Franc is considered a native grape, and Veneto, and slightly less in Tuscany, where it is used in Supertuscan blends.

Cultivation of Cabernet Franc has, in recent years, increased in Tuscany, particularly in the region of Bolgheri, where the grape is appreciated for adding elegance to their worldwide famous wines, the Bolgheri. The grape is also sporadically found in the south, from Apulia to Sicily.

Cabernet Franc, rarely bottled on its own, except in Friuli Venezia Giulia and recently Tuscany, has a very unique taste profile, producing wines with a very hearty and grassy nose, little tannins and a lively acidity and it is a wine that it is, either, loved or hated. When used in blends, the cabernet franc adds elegance to the wine.