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The red grape variety originates from France. There are about 60 synonyms attesting to its age and worldwide distribution in almost all wine producing countries. Some grouped alphabetically by country are Franzosenrebe (Germany); Kaberne Sovinjon, Kaberne Sovinyon, Lafit, Lafite (Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia); Bidure, Bouchet, Bouchet Sauvignon, Breton, Cabernet Petit, Carbonet, Carbouet, Carmenet, Castet, Enfin, Epicier Noir, Marchoupet, Navarre, Petit Bouchet, Petit Bouschet, Petit Cabernet, Petit Cavernet Sauvignon, Petite Vidure, Sauvignon, Sauvignonne, Vidure, Vidure Sauvignonne, Vigne Dure (France); Bordo (Romania); Bordeaux (Switzerland); Burdeos Tinto (Peru, Spain); Cab (USA).

Cabernet Sauvignon - Weintraube und Blatt

By the way, Cabernet Sauvignon was the first classic variety whose parentage was determined by means of DNA analysis, which had just become popular at the time. This happened more or less by chance when the DNA profiles of the most important varieties cultivated in California were determined and compared while creating a genetic database. This was done in 1997 by Dr Carole Meredith and John Bowers at the University of California and revealed a parentage Cabernet Franc x Sauvignon Blanc. This is also the reason why it was often confused with Cabernet Franc, especially in the 19th century, but also with the variety Carmenère (direct descendant of Cabernet Franc). The worldwide surprise was so great because until then it had been doubted that white varieties could be involved in the creation of red ones.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Kreuzung Cabernet Franc (rot) x Sauvignon Blanc (weiiß)

A somatic mutation with white berry colour discovered in Australia is the variety Shalistin. Two open-pollinated seedlings (with thus unknown father varieties) are Cygne Blanc and Negru Aromat. Due to its excellent characteristics, Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular crossing partner for new varieties. Offspring in this respect include Amurg, Arcas, Arinarnoa, Baron, Biser, Cabaret Noir, Cabernet Blanc, Cabernet Carbon, Cabernet Carol, Cabernet Colonjes, Cabernet Cortis, Cabernet Cubin, Cabernet Diane, Cabernet Doré, Cabernet Dorio, Cabernet Dorsa, Cabernet Early, Cabernet Eidos, Cabernet Foch, Cabernet Jura, Cabernet Labrusco, Cabernet Lion, Cabernet Malbec, Cabernet Mitos, Cabernet Pepper, Cabernet Soyhières, Cabernet Suntory, Cabernet Volos, Cabertin, Caperan, Carmine, Carminoir, Carnelian, Centurion, Cienna, Codana, Codrinski, Echmiadzini, Ekigaïna, Eraskh, Gargiulo 2539, Granatovy, Kaberam, Luminitsa, Marselan, Mourvèdre Hichle, Odessky Cherny, Petite Milo, Pinotin, Prince Noir, Probus, Riesel, Roobernet, Rubienne, Rubinovy Magaracha, Ruby Cabernet, Ruen, Satin Noir, Shiroka Melnishka, Tisserand, Tyrian, VB 32-7, Vympel and Yama Sauvignon.

The name Bidure gave rise to the assumption that Cabernet Sauvignon could be descended from the ancient variety Biturica mentioned by the Roman authors Columella (1st century BC) and Pliny the Elder (23-79). Another hypothesis names the ancient Spanish variety Cocolubis as the ancestor of Biturica and later Cabernet Sauvignon. And by Greek ampelographers, the native Volitsa Mavri was thought to be the descendant of Balisca (Biturica) and ancestor of the vine. But all these hypotheses have been refuted by the now clarified ancestry. It is a much younger variety, probably originating in the Gironde area (Bordeaux) at least before the 18th century.

In 1635, Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) sent several thousand vines to the Abbé Breton. Therefore, based on the synonym Breton, it is assumed that it could have been Cabernet Sauvignon. It was first mentioned in the mid-1770s by the mayor of Libourne (Gironde) under the name Petit Cabernet. It was not until the end of the 18th century that the variety became more prominent in Bordeaux. Armand d'Armailhacq and Baron Hector de Brane, the owners of Château Brane-Cantenac and Château d'Armailhac, are credited with special achievements. The current name Cabernet Sauvignon only appeared around 1840.

The medium-late ripening vine is very susceptible to fungal diseases, especially eutypiosis, esca and powdery mildew. It has hard-skinned, small berries with particularly many seeds and is therefore rich in phenols. The variety produces dark-coloured, tannin- and acid-rich red wines with pronounced aromas of cassis and green pepper, which have excellent storage potential. Cabernet Sauvignon belongs to the narrowest circle of the Cépages nobles. It is often described as the noblest and potentially best variety of all. As the main component in the Bordeaux blend, it lends body and structure to the great Bordeaux red wines and to many other wines of the world. However, many single varietal red wines are also made from it. Its extraordinary ability lies in the fact that even under the most diverse climatic and soil conditions, the character of the wine remains unmistakable. It is no coincidence that at the legendary wine tasting known as the Paris Wine Tasting in 1976, the red wines from rank 1 to rank 10 were dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon without exception!

In France, the variety occupies a total of 46,455 hectares. The largest areas are in Bordeaux with around 25,000 hectares, where it is permitted in countless appellations. It is followed by Languedoc-Roussillon (especially Languedoc) with 19,000 hectares and Provence with 3,500 hectares. In Italy, the variety became popular from the 1960s onwards, but was not permitted in many DOC areas for the time being. The super Tuscans such as Sassicaia and Tignanello then triggered a real boom and Cabernet Sauvignon is now a component of many DOC/DOCG red wines. Here it is grown on a total of 14,240 hectares.

Other countries in Europe are Bulgaria (9,327 ha), Germany (329 ha), England, Georgia (286 ha), Greece (1,929 ha), Kazakhstan (20 ha), Croatia (709 ha), Moldova (8,169 ha), Northern Macedonia (1,020 ha), Austria (589 ha), Portugal (2.346 ha), Romania (5,359 ha), Russia (8,528 ha), Switzerland (66 ha), Serbia (2,111 ha), Slovakia (469 ha), Slovenia (423 ha), Spain (20,139 ha), Czech Republic (230 ha), Turkey (476 ha), Ukraine (4,935 ha), Hungary (2,677 ha) and Cyprus (369 ha).

Other countries outside Europe are Algeria (1,000 ha), Argentina (15,356 ha), Australia (23,987 ha), Brazil (429 ha), Chile (42,409 ha), China (40,300 ha), India (100 ha), Israel (990 ha), Japan (42 ha), Canada (660 ha), Cambodia (2 ha), Lebanon (1.000 ha), Morocco (604 ha), Mexico (756 ha), Myanmar, New Zealand (275 ha), Peru (48 ha), South Africa (10,589 ha), Thailand (7 ha), the Czech Republic, Tunisia (117 ha) and Uruguay (484 ha), and in the USA (40,837 ha) in California (with the largest share of around 30,000 ha), New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. The population increased 2.5-fold in 25 years, from 127,878 ha in 1990 to 310,671 ha in 2016. This puts the variety in first place in the global grape variety ranking.

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)

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