Wine

Cathal McBride: A grape as noble as cab sav, to be franc

Cabernet franc doesn’t receive the same attention as its offspring cabernet sauvignon, but it holds its own as a single varietal

Cabernet franc grapes: the ancestral home is the Loire where it’s the principal red grape. Picture: Getty

I have always been a champion of the underdog, and on its International Wine Day cabernet franc gets some well-earned attention.

Famous for mixing with sauvignon blanc to create cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc is undoubtedly as noble as its offspring, but lacks the same fanfare. Most associated with Bordeaux where it is effectively grown for use in blends, this aromatic grape also holds its own as a single varietal.

Cabernet franc’s ancestral home is in ...