The Cabernet Sauvignon Family

“Our feature wines this newsletter all have something in common-Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are obviously two completely different wines.  So how did they end up with the same name?

As they ripen on the vine, the noble red Cabernet Sauvignon and the racy white Sauvignon Blanc can have a remarkably similar grassy and asparagus flavour. And the leaves on both look quite similar. Guess what? They are mother and son: the red Cabernet Sauvignon is a naturally occurring cross of red Cabernet Franc and white Sauvignon Blanc!

What I have learned suggests the cross happened in the vineyards around the town of Bordeaux in France perhaps 300 years ago. These days, both Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are widely grown around the world with famous sites in France, Chile, South Africa, California, New Zealand and of course the cool Strathbogie Ranges in Australia!”

Cheers, Sam Plunkett