Cabernet Franc is an important grape variety for a variety of reasons: its progeny, its role as a ubiquitous blending grape, as insurance, and—finally—as a splendid lead grape in its own right.
In 1997, Cal Davis wine wizards proved Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc were parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, arguably world’s premier red grape. Stop there and Cab Franc is venerated in viniculture. Continue reading
Month: October 2010
Commodity wines 6 of 6
Wine factories—producers of “commodity” wines—hit the jackpot with varietal wine naming. No French or Italian or Spanish or, shudder, German über-confusing wine words to learn. No arcane labels to decipher. No humiliation from snotty sommeliers. Continue reading
Commodity wines 5 of 6
Branding wine varietals—selling the name of the grape—is marketing breakthrough that elevated American, then world, wine consumption to levels enjoyed today. Continue reading
Commodity wines 4 of 6
The marketing masterstroke of naming wines by the grape from which they are made is a major reason for today’s wine boom. Continue reading