Cabernet Franc - wine grape variety

Cabernet Franc is an important variety of the Bordeaux area. It should not be confused with so-called Cabernet Gros of South Australia, which is really Bastardo. Although some small plantings have been made in recent years, Cabernet Franc has generally been found in Australia as odd vines in plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly in north east Victoria where it sometimes occurs to the extent of more than one vine in ten. In France, where it is also grown in the Loire Valley and is now recommended throughout the entire south including Corsica, plantings increased from 9700 ha in 1958 to 30 256 ha in 1988. In Italy it is regarded more highly than Cabernet Sauvignon and recommended in more provinces. The Cabernet varieties are important in eastern Europe and South America, probably Cabernet Sauvignon the more so, but they are not always recorded separately. Cabernet Franc has not achieved the same recognition as Cabernet Sauvignon in California with 767 ha planted by 1992. The area planted to this variety in Australia is increasing with 453 ha planted by 1992.

Cabernet Franc is a vigorous and upright grower with medium, mid-green, rather rough, 3- to 5-lobed leaves with tufted hairs on the lower surface. The leaves are less deeply lobed than those of Cabernet Sauvignon and have the petiolar sinus in the shape of a narrow lyre. Bunches are small to medium, more or less cylindrical and rather loose with small, round berries. As with Cabernet Sauvignon there seem to be inferior vines which yield poorly, but a good clone held at Merbein has yielded at the rate of more than 15 tonnes per hectare.

The wine of Cabernet Franc has a pronounced varietal character, good tannin and colour, and ages well. It can be distinguished from the wine of Cabernet Sauvignon and the presence of Cabernet Franc may be partly responsible for the special character of Cabernet wines from north-east Victoria.