Cabernet Fran

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and spending the last two days talking about Malbec got me thinking about other Bordeaux grape varieties that are standing up and being served up on their own. Today let's talk Cabernet Franc. On a previous program I explained to you how Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc came together to parent Cabernet Sauvignon. The child has risen to greatness but the parents are still widely respected and in fact Cabernet Franc has risen to be produced as a wine on its own in many parts of the new wine world. The first plantings of Cabernet Franc in Washington state were cultivated in experimental blocks by the University in the 1970s. In 1985, Cabernet Franc was planted in the famed Red Willow Vineyard for use in Bordeaux style blends. The first varietal labeled Cabernet Franc in Washington was released in 1991 by David Lake at Columbia Winery. Today it is one of the top four most widely planted grapes in the state. Washington Cabernet Franc is distinctive for its fruit forward style. The characteristics vegetal notes are toned down in Washington; which is why I think the wines are so desirable. I recently had a Cabernet Franc made by Kestrel Vineyards, it was the winemaker's select and it was one of the best I have ever found. So you might want to start there when exploring Cabernet Franc. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.