Cabernet Franc

Although it is one of the main grape varieties of the great wines of Bordeaux (F), Cabernet Franc finds its ancestral origins in the Spanish Basque Country, from where it spread to Gironde (F), then to the Loire (F) where it became one of the most widely cultivated reds. DNA tests show that it is the progenitor of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère. In Switzerland, this grape variety of mid-range maturity, not very susceptible to fungal diseases, is mostly grown in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino.

Cabernet Franc red wines have a ruby red colour. On the palate they show moderate acidity and velvety tannins. This grape variety gives pleasant and well-rounded wines. Cabernet Franc is famous for its typical raspberry aroma. It also often carries aromas of blackcurrant leaves, strawberries, licorice and violets to its wines.