Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most famous full-bodied red wines. Among all wines out there, Cab wine grapes are the most widely cultivated grape plant species. Since the grapes for Cabernet Sauvignon are grown across different regions, you will find varied flavours of this red wine in different regions.
Despite being the largest cultivated wine grape, many still have queries like is cabernet sauvignon a red wine. This is indeed a full-bodied red wine that comes with carrying dark fruit flavours ranging from bell pepper to black pepper.
Here you can find complete information about Cabernet Sauvignon and some surprising facts.
What Does Cabernet Sauvignon Taste Like?
Cabernet Sauvignon hails from two different regions, Old World and New World, with slightly different flavours.
The Old World 100% authentic Cabernet Sauvignon are quite rare and comes with a combination of herbal tobacco flavours and floral flavours of violets and graphite. On the other hand, the Old World Cab gives earthiness and flavours with hints of liquorice and black cherries.
On the other hand, New World Cabernet Sauvignon is more on the fruity flavour side. Their flavours are often filled with liquorice, black pepper and cherry are thrown together with some hints of vanilla flavours.
The Old World wines have higher alcohol content (13.5-15.5% ABV) and less acidity and tannin, which gives them their unique touch.
8 Surprising Facts About Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the finest wine grapes that yield an exotic red wine with the perfect texture. In addition, it is one of the best red wines with dark flavours. Despite being a red wine variety, it yields many fruit flavours, making it an earthy wine, according to some people.
Here are a few other facts related to Cabernet Sauvignon that will surprise you:
1. Germany Is The Largest Producer
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are originally from Bordeaux, France. The grape has changed much since then and has massively cross-bred with several other grape varieties worldwide. Over 124 thousand acres of wine grapes land in France, the highest in all regions. USA and Australia also produce large quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes.
2. Most Widely Cultivated Wine Grapes
It is one of the most planted red wine grapes globally and comes in different varieties like Montepulciano, Tannat, Petit Verdot etc. Almost every famous wine-producing country grows Cabernet Sauvignon with some unique traits. Whether in Asia, Australia or North America, you can easily find Cabernet Sauvignon in almost every region.
3. It’s A Cross Of Two Different Breeds
The origin of Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the natural crossing of two different breeds, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. The inception of this wine dates back to the 1600s and has now evolved to its modern form.
Different varieties of these wine grapes are found in regions with different climates.
4. Cabernet Sauvignon Is An Expensive Wine
The global demand for this dark fruit-flavoured wine is on a large scale, making it one of the most expensive red wines. Last year, the price of Cabernet Sauvignon was around $6,000/ton, whereas other red wines were in the range of $1,300 to $3,000/ton.
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5. The First Commercial Production
According to the history of wine consumption and production, Cabernet Sauvignon is the first commercial grape variety and has been produced since 1868.
In 1973, it became a Vitis Vinifera cultivar with its trademark rights.
6. Cabernet Day For Wine Lovers
Every year, Cabernet Day is celebrated worldwide on the Thursday before Labor Day in August.
It started in 2010 when a social media campaign of #CabernetDay started to rise across all major platforms. Since 2010, grand tasting programs have been held across major cities, including Sydney, New York and San Francisco.
7. Also Grows In Desert
It is indeed interesting that Cabernet Sauvignon can also grow and be harvested in desert climates. The water consumption of this grape is much less (1-2.5 gallons) than other wine grape varieties, making it economically viable in arid regions. There are several wineries of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Gobi desert region of China.
8. It’s A Celebrity Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most famous grape varieties in the world and comes with several celebrity followers and lovers across the globe, including; Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake, Angelina Jolie and Tiger Woods, among others.
Cabernet Sauvignon comes in various flavours and textures and can be found in different locations around the globe. It is a popular commercial grape variety developed over the years and now holds a distinct identity as one of the finest red wine varieties available today.
Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing
While pairing food with Cabernet Sauvignon, you need to take care of this wine’s complex and layered flavours. Due to its high tannins and alcohol content, you need to pair it with foods with umami flavours or food with higher fat content.
For example, a mushroom pizza with marinated ribeye steak and tomato sauce or a classic charred gruyere burger can be the perfect companion for Cabernet Sauvignon. Since this wine is already rich in fruity flavours, it’s best to avoid having fruity or chocolaty flavours. Instead, you can bring the best out of its flavours by pairing it with mushroom stroganoff or braised short ribs.
Next, the savoury tastes of Cab are tackled with the strong umami flavours, and eventually, you can cherish the best berry flavours of this red wine.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon A Red Wine Good For Cooking?
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best choices if you are looking for wine for cooking. It has tart cherry flavours and earthy notes that give the perfect finish to any food. While roasting chicken or lamb, throw in some Cabernet Sauvignon wines to make the dish juicy and tender. It will also add creamy notes to your roast chicken or zesty notes to your lamb roast.
Since this wine pairs well with red meats, try pairing it with grilled steak, burgers or cheeses. You can also use it while making marinades for tenderizing meat before grilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Cabernet Sauvignon a red wine or white wine?
Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular red wine grape variety found mostly in the Boudreaux regions of Germany. However, you can find this wine grape variety in almost every major country that produces wine grapes.
Q2. What is the difference between red wine and Cabernet Sauvignon?
Red wines get their red colour, texture and flavour from the outer skins of the grapes. The skins of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are generally thicker, which increases the concentration and gives purple/black colour to the wine.
Q3. Is Cabernet Sauvignon pure red wine?
Cab wine grapes are grown across different regions and hence have different flavours based on the region’s climate. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine having savoury tastes of dark fruit flavours.
Q4. Is Cabernet Sauvignon a good red wine?
According to wine lovers, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely recognized red wines, with dark fruity flavours and higher alcohol content.
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