A Brief History of Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon has a charming history and characteristics all its own. Pour a glass, and let’s enjoy a brief history of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Born in France
Aren’t so many delicious things born in France? Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception, as it hails from the beautiful region of Bordeaux.
In the 17th century, two different types of grapes merged in the southwest of France, giving birth to this deep red that we love. The Sauvignon blanc grape plant and the Cabernet Franc grape plant accidentally collided. Thankfully, the result tastes nothing like an accident at all.
Bordeaux
Sommeliers agree that a grape must toil to come to fruition. It’s an art and a struggle for vines to bear only the best fruit. The best grapes are produced when it’s a bit tough to grow, and only the strongest survive, producing lower yields but better grapes.
This is what makes Bordeaux a hero for Cabernet Sauvignon fans. The soil is rather poor and not suitable for agriculture. However, it’s perfectly suited for the grape that prefers a bit of a fight to come to life.
Although other regions now grow the grapes needed for Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, France put it on the map.
Napa Valley
Enter Napa Valley. Similar to Bordeaux, with warm, dry, Mediterranean-type weather and soil that seems designed for grapes, Napa shook the wine world in 1976 as it beat French wines in a blind-tasting competition known as the Judgment of Paris.
The French found it amusing that Americans would even enter such a competition, but Napa Valley blew everyone away. Today, Napa Valley produces over 18,000 acres of the Cabernet grape. Their reputation now spans decades for the most premium Cabernet Sauvignons.
Why We Love It
The history of wine is always fascinating, with its struggles and origins in beautiful regions around the world. But why do we love Cabernet Sauvignon so much? Let our senses of smell, sight, and taste tell you.
- Sight — Cabs have the richest and deepest color of all reds. Looking at a glass of it leads one to assume that this wine is going to feel like velvet and taste impeccable.
- Smell — Your nose immediately finds hints of vanilla, black pepper, and sometimes even tobacco or leather.
- Taste — The taste of this robust wine is full of dark fruits such as plum and dark cherry, as well as flavors of vanilla and pepper.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the go-to for steak lovers. It’s high in tannins that balance the palate when the cut of steak is high in fat. Also, the dark fruit notes in Cabernet Sauvignon pair perfectly with the salty flavors in red meats.
Most of all, we love cabs because they’re brave and bold. There’s nothing shy about a cab. That, along with a history of being somewhat of a fighter, makes Cabernet Sauvignon a champion in our books.
Now that you understand the history of Cabernet Sauvignon, we’d love to help you choose the right bottle to add to your collection. At VS Liquor, we have an extensive collection of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons and carry all other specialty liquor online. Contact us, and we’ll be happy to answer all of your wine and liquor questions. Until then, à votre santé!