The World’s Most Planted Grape Variety

The World’s Most Planted Grape Variety

Per and Britt Karlsson in Forbes.com
  Cabernet Sauvignon has long been responsible for some of the world’s most talked-about, appreciated and expensive wines. In Bordeaux, it is worshiped. In the 1990s, when California and other New World countries introduced Cabernet to wine drinkers around the world, the success was a given. How is it doing today? Are wine consumers still infatuated by Cabernet Sauvignon? Today, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most grown grape variety in the world. In other words, it is spread throughout the world. This means an array of different climates and soil types. And an even bigger variety of winemakers with different ambitions. But that doesn’t stop Cabernet Sauvignon from being part of the wine world’s nobility.
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on the vine in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
It is planted on a total of 840,000 acres in the world, just over 5% of the world’s vineyard surface. Cabernet Sauvignon is originally from Bordeaux where it has probably existed since the 18th century. There are 67,000 acres in Bordeaux, mainly in the Médoc and in Graves. France has a total of 126,000 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, making it the fourth most planted red grape in the country. Other regions in France also benefit from the grape’s popularity. In the Languedoc, it is grown on 41,000 acres and produces wines of varying style and quality. There is also a little in the western part of Provence where Cabernet Sauvignon is allowed in Coteaux d’Aix en Provence and Les Baux en Provence. Of course, the fact that Cabernet Sauvignon has become the favorite of so many wine producers is partly due to the fact that they are inspired by the greatness of Bordeaux. A high-quality Bordeaux has the ability to age in the bottle for a long time. Being able to mature gracefully is by some considered (for better or worse) the very essence of noble wine.  
An old vine with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Medoc, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
It also helps that the grape is relatively easy to grow and not so fussy. It does well in both warm and cool climates. But not too cool. Notes of green pepper can develop in cool climates which are rarely popular among wine drinkers. The bunches are small with thick-skinned grapes. You easily get good colour with Cabernet Sauvignon. The classic characteristics are the firm tannins, the dark fruit, the cedar wood, the cigar box, the complexity and the lingering taste. Many Cabernet wines spend time in oak barrels. In Médoc and Graves normally around 12-18 months. Top-class Cabernet wines may require ageing, although today’s Bordeaux wines, even the best ones, are enjoyable much earlier than in the past. However, the ageing potential is still there and the aromas develop with increasing age towards elegance, dried fruit and autumn leaves. A wine from Médoc or Graves is almost always a blended wine. Here you rarely see more than 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, usually a little less. The rest is Merlot and Cabernet Franc and maybe a dash of Petit Verdot. The “Bordeaux blend” has become a concept worldwide. The big Cabernet country after France is California. There are a little over 100,000 acres planted in the United States. It is the most planted red grape in the country and in total it is in second place after Chardonnay. Some of the world’s most expensive and most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon wines come from California. The style is often opulent, with generous fruit but still with good structure. Here the grape often performs in splendid isolation.  
Cabernet Sauvignon fermentation tank in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
It was from California that the stunning news came in 1996, that Cabernet Sauvignon could be a spontaneous cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Can a white grape be a parent to the dark, powerful cabernet sauvignon? Not everyone is convinced. Chile is the country with the largest share of its vineyard surface planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, an impressive 20%. In Australia, the grape is in second place after Shiraz with which it is sometimes blended. Cabernet is also a popular grape in Argentina and South Africa. In China it is the most planted grape for making wine. In Spain and Italy, Cabernet Sauvignon, although much less planted than local grapes, is responsible for some very top-quality wines. The world is not yet tired of Cabernet Sauvignon. Actually, the grape is still on the rise. Are producers out there still looking for the holy grail, a remake of a grand Pauillac? Maybe still a little bit. But most of them are probably simply proud of their own interpretation. Cabernet Sauvignon facts: Total worldwide surface: 840,000 acres Main countries: France, USA, Chile, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, China Characteristics: Rich, full-bodied, firm tannins, good concentration, blackberries, cedarwood, cigar box, ageing potential CHECK OUT SOME GREAT CABERNET SUGGESTIONS: BEHRENS FAMILY 2015 MOULDS VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA – 96 POINTS BEVAN 2017 ONTOGENY PROPRIETARY RED NAPA ~ 99 POINTS CASTIEL 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON HOWELL MOUNTAIN, NAPA VALLEY CATERWAUL 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY – 95 POINTS  VALUE NAPA CAB!! CERVANTES MMXVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY – 96+ POINTS COHO 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY CROCKER & STARR 2016 RLC CABERNET, NAPA VALLEY – 94 POINTS GALLICA 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, OAKVILLE NAPA VALLEY 3 X 96 POINTS! GB CRANE 2018 “EL COCO” PROPRIETARY RED, NAPA VALLEY (95 POINTS) HAYFORK 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON “LEWELLING RANCH” ST. HELENA NAPA VALLEY ILARIA 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY KAMEN 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ESTATE, SONOMA – 96 POINTS MELIS FAMILY 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY SCARLETT 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ESTATE RUTHERFORD NAPA VALLEY TRESPASS 2016 MAYHEM BORDEAUX BLEND ESTATE ST. HELENA NAPA VALLEY VANGONE 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, ESTATE NAPA VALLEY, 98 POINTS Click here or on the links above to order! Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@GoldenGateWineCellars.com for availability and priority allocation!