A RED GRAPE · LOIRE (CHINON)
Cabernet Franc
Medium body, raspberry, bell pepper.
What Cabernet Franc tastes like
Cabernet Franc is a red grape. In the glass it reads as medium body, raspberry and bell pepper. Cabernet Franc is full-bodied, with firm tannin and fresh acidity, finishing dry. A little oak is common. Its home turf, as we hold it, is Loire (Chinon), Bordeaux Right Bank.
Where Cabernet Franc grows
Our appellations table names Cabernet Franc in 67 wine regions. The ones with the most wines in our database are Pauillac (France), Pomerol (France), Margaux (France), Saint-Émilion (France), Saint-Julien (France), Pessac-Léognan (France), Saint-Estèphe (France), Saumur (France), Saumur-Champigny (France), Oakville (USA), Anjou (France) and Bordeaux (France).
Cabernet Franc is grown well beyond that list: 55 more appellations name it as a main grape, which is part of why one bottle can taste so different from the next.
How the place changes the glass
- Pauillac (France): Powerful, structured Cabernet-dominant blends with black fruit, graphite and firm tannin; long-lived. Climate: temperate maritime, moderated by the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary.
- Pomerol (France): Soft, voluptuous reds with plush tannins and dark cherry fruit, emphasizing richness over structure. Climate: warm maritime-influenced temperate.
- Margaux (France): Structured, elegant Cabernet-based blends with cassis, cedar, and fine-grained tannins. Climate: temperate maritime.
- Saint-Émilion (France): Balanced, medium-bodied reds with earthy complexity, lower alcohol than Pomerol, minerality from limestone. Climate: warm maritime-influenced temperate.
What to eat with Cabernet Franc
The classic partners are roast pork, mushroom tart and charcuterie. Its tannin wants fat and protein on the plate, so rich meats and aged cheeses suit it.
Cabernet Franc on menus we hold
- Grilled Beef Balsiger at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Cabernet - Merlot Domaine Salathé (2020). Pencil shavings and an old, serious book.
- Grilled Beef from Les Pléiades at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Cabernet - Merlot Domaine Salathé (2020). A cedar-lined study, a leather chair, a long wait for rain.
Cabernet Franc in our cellar
The appellations above account for about 14,389 Cabernet Franc wines in the Sommurai database, which is how we know which regions pour it most.
Grapes to try next
If you like Cabernet Franc, these red grapes are worth a glass: Merlot, Grenache and Gamay.
Quick answers
What does Cabernet Franc taste like?
Cabernet Franc reads as medium body, raspberry and bell pepper. Cabernet Franc is full-bodied, with firm tannin and fresh acidity, finishing dry. A little oak is common.
What food goes with Cabernet Franc?
roast pork, mushroom tart and charcuterie.
Where is Cabernet Franc grown?
Our appellations table names Cabernet Franc in 67 wine regions, including Pauillac (France), Pomerol (France), Margaux (France), Saint-Émilion (France) and Saint-Julien (France).
Open it in the app
Pair every dish on a menu with a wine you can order: scan a menu, swipe the pairings, explore restaurants, wineries and hotels.