Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most famous red wine grape, a Vitis vinifera cultivar that originated in the Bordeaux region of France as a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, identified by DNA research in 1996. It produces small, thick-skinned blue-black berries in loose clusters and is late ripening, needing a long, warm season to reach full maturity. The thick skins yield deeply colored, tannic, age-worthy wines with signature blackcurrant and cedar notes. Widely planted from Bordeaux to Napa, Chile, and Australia, it is a vigorous, adaptable vine with good resistance to some diseases due to its tough skin. Home and small-vineyard growers choose it for classic dry red wine in regions with hot, dry summers.
Flavor Profile
Intensely flavored with blackcurrant, dark cherry, and cedar notes, high tannins, and firm acidity for structured, age-worthy red wine.
Visual Characteristics
Loose clusters of small, round, thick-skinned berries that ripen to a deep blue-black.
Growing Tips
Late ripening; plant in a warm, sunny site with good drainage and manage canopy to fully ripen the small berries.
Where to Buy
Sourcing information coming soon. Check local nurseries and seed banks for availability.