What is Cabernet Franc?

Quick answer

Cabernet Franc is a red Vitis vinifera grape variety used to make red wine. It can be bottled on its own or blended with other varieties.

In the glass, Cabernet Franc often shows red fruit such as raspberry, redcurrant or cherry, with floral, herbal, leafy or peppery notes. It usually has noticeable acidity and moderate to firm tannin, although its body and structure can range from relatively light and fragrant to fuller and more concentrated.

Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are separate varieties. Cabernet Franc is one of Cabernet Sauvignon’s parents, which helps explain their shared name and some family resemblance—but they are not the same grape.

What does Cabernet Franc taste like?

The most useful starting point is fresh red fruit with aromatic and herbal detail. You might notice raspberry, redcurrant or cherry, alongside violet-like flowers, fresh herbs, leafy notes or pepper.

Some Cabernet Franc wines show a capsicum or green-pepper character. This can be more noticeable when grapes are less ripe. It is not a guarantee of the variety, nor is every herbal note a fault. Ripe Cabernet Franc can be fruit-driven, floral and savoury without tasting distinctly green.

Cabernet Franc commonly brings freshness from acidity and shape from tannin. Tannin is the drying, gently gripping sensation that gives red wine structure. The result can be a wine that feels energetic and defined rather than soft and broad.

Body is less reliable as a way to identify Cabernet Franc. Many examples are light- to medium-bodied, but a ripe wine made with more extraction or oak can be considerably fuller. Climate, vineyard site, harvest timing, fermentation, maturation and blending all influence the finished style.

Cabernet Franc versus Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc is not Cabernet Sauvignon’s less serious or lighter version. They are different grape varieties with different typical expressions.

These are broad tendencies, not rules. A cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon may be restrained and fresh, while a warm-climate Cabernet Franc may be rich and powerful. Oak, extraction, blending and bottle age can also blur the differences.

For a fuller explanation of the other variety, see What is Cabernet Sauvignon?.

How is Cabernet Franc used?

Cabernet Franc can be made as a single-variety red wine, allowing its red fruit, fragrance and herbal character to take centre stage.

It is also a familiar blending variety. In a blend, it can contribute aroma, freshness, red-fruit flavour and savoury or leafy complexity. It may be combined with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot or Shiraz, depending on the wine and its origin.

On an Australian label, Cabernet Franc identifies the grape variety. The term Cabernets can refer to specified blend categories in Wine Australia’s labelling guidance. Do not assume that “Cabernet” means Cabernet Franc: in that guidance, “Cabernet” is identified as a synonym for Cabernet Sauvignon in the relevant varietal context.

Cabernet Franc in Australia

Cabernet Franc is a recognised but relatively small Australian grape variety. Wine Australia’s 2019 variety snapshot recorded 333 hectares planted nationally and 1,180 tonnes crushed in that vintage. Those figures describe 2019, not current Australian production.

Australian examples can come from different climates and sites, so one bottle may be bright and fragrant while another is darker, fuller or more savoury. Picking decisions, crop levels, fermentation, extraction, oak maturation and blending can all affect the result.

Wine Australia identifies Cabernet Franc as particularly suited to the cool Sunbury region near Melbourne, where Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen consistently in many vintages. Sunbury is a useful example of the variety’s cool-climate connection, not a claim that one region defines Australian Cabernet Franc.

Remember that Cabernet Franc is a grape variety, while a place name on a label is a geographic indication. They answer different questions: the variety describes the grape, and the geographic indication describes where the grapes or wine come from.

How should you approach a bottle?

If you enjoy red wines with freshness, red fruit and more aromatic or savoury detail, Cabernet Franc may be worth exploring. When choosing or ordering it, ask whether the wine is single-variety or blended and consider the climate or region shown on the label.

With food, its acidity and tannin can make it a useful partner for savoury dishes, especially those with roasted vegetables, herbs or moderate richness. Treat this as a starting point rather than a rule: the wine’s body, oak and fruit intensity matter too.

The easiest way to taste Cabernet Franc is to look for the combination, not one magic descriptor: red fruit, freshness and aromatic or herbal character, held together by tannin.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cabernet Franc a red or white grape?

Cabernet Franc is a red wine grape variety.

Is Cabernet Franc the same as Cabernet Sauvignon?

No. They are separate varieties. Cabernet Franc is one of Cabernet Sauvignon’s two identified genetic parents, alongside Sauvignon Blanc.

Is Cabernet Franc always green or herbal?

No. Herbal or leafy notes can occur, particularly in less-ripe examples, but Cabernet Franc can also show red fruit, flowers, spice and savoury character.

Is Cabernet Franc always lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon?

No. It is often fresher and more aromatic, and many examples are light- to medium-bodied, but ripe fruit and concentrated winemaking can produce a fuller wine.

Can Cabernet Franc be a single-variety wine?

Yes. It is made both as a single-variety wine and as part of a blend.

What does “Cabernets” mean on an Australian wine label?

In the relevant Wine Australia labelling guidance, “Cabernets” can refer to specified blend categories. It should not be treated as another name for Cabernet Franc.