cabernet savignon :

MAJOR REGIONS: France (~124k acres), Chile (~100k acres), United States (~95k acres), Australia (~65k acres), Italy(unknown), South Africa (~41k acres), Argentina (~16k acres)
Over 650,000 acres worldwide.

Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics :

FRUIT: black cherry, black currant and blackberry
OTHER: black pepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla and violet
OAK: Yes. Usually 9-18 months French oak. Some American & Hungarian oak
TANNIN: Medium (+)
ACIDITY: Medium (+)
ABV: 13.5-15.5%

8 Surprising Facts About Cabernet Sauvignon :

Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross!

Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that occured during in the 1600’s. Since then, it’s evolved to become what it is today. DNA testing at UC Davis discovered this relationship in 1996.

American Cab may contain 25% other grapes.

It’s legal in the US to permit up to 25% of another grape to be blended into a wine labeled as “Cabernet Sauvignon.” Some producers blend for better flavor – others blend for better value.

Why is Cabernet Sauvignon wine so expensive?

Demand. In 2008, Napa Valley grape grower, Piña, said their Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon was ringing in $6,000/ton whereas neighboring Merlot vineyards were selling at $1,300/ton.

Want to celebrate Cabernet? There’s a day for that.

Cabernet Day is held on the Thursday before Labor day at the end of August each year. #CabernetDay started in 2010 as a social media stint to celebrate the variety. Since then, it has grown to include grand tastings in major cities from San Francisco to Sydney.

The green bell pepper smell in Cabernet Sauvignon has been linked!

The bell pepper aroma in Cabernet Sauvignon has been traced to an organic compound group called pyrazines. Pyrazines are higher in unripe Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and are noticable at just 10-20 parts/trillion. Wine growers often prune the canopy leaves to increase sun exposure to the grapes.

Cabernet Sauvignon is high yield.

At Chateau Latour, producer of the world’s most expensive Cabernet Sauvignon, they harvest 3.5 tons per acre. Comparatively, the most expensive Pinot Noir in the world, from DRC, harvests just over 1 ton of grapes per acre.

Proven to grow well in a desert!

In Eastern Washington State, a region that gets just 6-8 inches of rain a year, Cabernet Sauvignon wines made from Champoux Vineyards have received multiple 100 point scores. The Gobi Desert in China has several wineries growing Cabernet Sauvignon including Chateau Hanson.

A rare Cabernet Sauvignon taint is linked to ladybugs.

Researchers studying Cabernet Sauvignon in Canada discovered that wines made from vineyards infested with Asian ladybugs affect the flavor of the wine greatly. Ladybug taint occurs when ladybugs are inadvertedly added into the fermenting wines.