Cabernet SauvignonThe king of red grapes, bold and structured with flavors that improve with age.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most planted and celebrated red grape variety, born from a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th-century Bordeaux, France. This noble grape found its spiritual home in the Left Bank of Bordeaux, particularly in Pauillac and Margaux, where it produces some of the world's most age-worthy and expensive wines.
What makes Cabernet Sauvignon special is its thick skin, which gives the wine deep color, robust tannins, and incredible aging potential. It thrives in warm climates and has successfully conquered wine regions across the globe, from Napa Valley's Rutherford Bench to Australia's Coonawarra and Chile's Maipo Valley. Whether blended or bottled as a single varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon consistently delivers power, structure, and complexity that wine lovers crave.
How to recognize this grape variety?
Cabernet Sauvignon offers a bold symphony of dark fruit flavors—think blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry—often accompanied by notes of cedar, tobacco, graphite, and vanilla from oak aging. You might also detect hints of green bell pepper or eucalyptus, especially in cooler-climate examples. The wine's firm tannins create a structured, full-bodied mouthfeel that coats your palate with velvety intensity.
This powerhouse pairs beautifully with equally robust foods: grilled ribeye steak, lamb chops, aged cheddar, or mushroom-based dishes. The wine's acidity and tannins cut through rich, fatty meats while its fruit concentration stands up to bold flavors. For best results, serve slightly below room temperature at 60-65°F to let those complex flavors shine through.
Cabernet Sauvignon production around the world
Here's the list of the top 4 producers of Cabernet Sauvignon worldwide.
FranceBordeaux, Loire Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon
54 434 haChileMaipo Valley, Colchagua, Aconcagua, Cachapoal
40 728 haUnited StatesNapa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles
34 788 haAustraliaCoonawarra, Margaret River, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale
24 862 haIf you like this grape variety...
Keep reading and discover other grape varieties.
Grape variety fact sheet
Origin
France











