Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon wines: history and characteristics of the most widespread grape variety in the world

Cabernet Sauvignon is a black grape variety, originating in Gironde, in the Médoc and Graves-Saint-Amant areas in France: among the existing varieties, it is the most adaptable internationally, for the production of wines of absolute quality. It is one of the best known and planted vines in the world, thanks to its ability to adapt to different types of soil and climate.

According to historical sources, Cabernet Sauvignon originates in the eighteenth century, as a cross between two other varieties: Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The success of hybridization stems from the vine’s ability to combine the best qualities of one and the other variety.

Looking at Italy, the cultivation of this vine is very widespread, especially in Tuscany, where it is exploited to produce renowned wines, but there’s an intensive presence also in the North, especially in Veneto, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige. However, the presence of Cabernet Sauvignon is really widespread all over the world, there are grape varieties in Spain, Chile, California, Australia and Argentina, among others. Suffice it to say that according to recent surveys, there are more than 340 thousand hectares of land planted with Cabernet Sauvignon all over the world.

The characteristics of the vine

The clusters of this variety tend to be very small in size and conical in shape, medium compact and with small circular section berries, with thick skin tending to bluish, and in any case very dark and with ample flowering. The pulp of this grape is colorful, consistent and with a rather intense flavor, with hints of herbs.

It is a very vigorous vine, able to adapt to the most diverse climatic conditions: for this reason it is among the most widespread varieties in the world. The plants are branched and have many clusters, with a rather late flowering and medium ripeness. It has no problem withstanding even in very windy territories. Excellent results are obtained on gravelly soils, with little water, acidic and well exposed. Excellent yield: between 5 and 15 tons per hectare.

Color and flavor

From the Cabernet Sauvignon grape we obtain wines with a very intense and dark color, lively and pleasantly tannic. The younger wines are very intense, with an enveloping flavor that is very pleasant to taste. Wines aged in oak barrels, on the other hand, are characterized by an even more rounded flavor

• the color of the Cabernet Sauvignon wine is intense red, very dark, with notes tending to purplish which over time change towards a brick hue
• on the nose, this variety of wine has hints of plum, cherry and currant; Cabernet Sauvignon aged in barrique, on the other hand, takes on notes of chocolate and tobacco.
• the taste of younger wines is rather harsh and harsh, while the aged ones have a more structured and deeper aroma. On the palate there are hints of pine, cedar, chocolate and black olives.

The wine produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is often used in important lunches and dinners, on special occasions. It is ideal to accompany meals with a large number of courses, especially if based on meat, roasts and game. The pairing with first courses, especially risotto, and truffle-based dishes is also apt. The advice: before drinking it, let it settle for an hour.

Prices of Cabernet Sauvignon wines

In our wine shop we offer very fine Cabernet Sauvignon wines. We always like to meet the taste of our customers and guarantee the highest quality standard in terms of wines. It is for this reason that in our wine shop you can find thick labels, such as the Tancredi wine from the Donnafugata winery, at a price of 25.00 euros per bottle, or the Camelot wine from the Firriato winery, at a price of 23.80 euros. We also have fine Cabernet Sauvignon wines but at more popular prices, such as the Cygnus wine produced by the Tasca D’Almerita winery (14.00 euros) and the Angheli wine from the Donnafugata winery (17.50 euros).