Cabernet Franc Day Date in the current year: December 4, 2024

Cabernet Franc is a red wine grape variety that originated in the Loire Valley in central France and is widely grown in the Bordeaux region. It is one of the six red grape varieties permitted in Bordeaux blends, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. According to DNA analysis, Cabernet Franc is a parent grape to Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Merlot.

Despite being one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world, Cabernet Franc is less popular than, say, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. One of the reasons for this is that this grape variety is primarily grown for blending, especially in its native France. However, it has been increasingly used to produce varietal wines, especially in North America.

Cabernet Franc has a similar profile to Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are a few noticeable differences. Cabernet Franc wines are lighter in color, although it does not affect their level of richness and intensity. Due to containing slightly less tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, these wines tend to have a smoother mouthfeel.

Cabernet Franc is used to produce medium-bodied varietal wines with medium alcohol and tannins and medium-high acidity. Its dominant flavors include red fruits and pepper. Depending on where the grape is grown, additional notes can include blackcurrant (cassis), herbs, graphite, spice, tobacco, violets, and vegetal notes ranging from leaves to green bell peppers.

Cabernet Franc is a versatile wine that pairs well with a wide variety of foods, including meat (roasted lamb, poultry, game meat, meatballs, meat stews, pâté), cheese (goat cheese, Cabembert, Feta), roasted vegetables, mushrooms, beans and lentils, olives, and quiche. It goes especially well with dishes that contain tomato sauce and/or herbs, such as coriander, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and various kinds of pepper.

Cabernet Franc Day was launched in 2015 by American wine blogger Lori Budd, who wanted to celebrate her favorite wine grape. The date of the holiday wasn’t chosen randomly; December 4 is the death anniversary of Cardinal Richelieu. But what does Cardinal Richelieu have to do with Cabernet Franc?

As a matter of fact, it is Cardinal Richelieu who is credited with introducing the grape to Libournais sometime in the 17th century. He transported vine cuttings to the Loire Valley, where they were planted at Bourgueil Abbey. By the 18th century, the grape was grown throughout Libournais and used to make quality wines.

Now that we know why Cabernet Franc Day coincides with Cardinal Richelieu’s death anniversary, let’s figure out how to celebrate the holiday. The easiest and most obvious way is to buy a bottle of Cabernet Franc and share it with a friend. Other ways to celebrate include learning more about Cabernet Franc, visiting a vineyard or winery, attending a wine tasting or a wine and food pairing class, and spreading the word about the holiday on social media using the hashtags #CabernetFrancDay, #InternationalCabernetFrancDay and #CabFrancDay.