JERSEY CAB (CABERNET SAUVIGNON)

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red grape varietal in the world. Its parents are Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Its origins are in the Bordeaux Region in France, though it is now planted in many areas of the world. In fact, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted red varietal on the planet. So why doesn’t every winery grow it and make this wine? Like other grapes, Cabs require a certain set of soils and microclimate to thrive. Temperatures must remain warm long enough to fully ripen (Cabs require a longer growing season than its parent, Cabernet Franc, for instance).

Though the skins are thick and the vines are hardy, they are also low-yielding. The low yield is another factor in why a winery owner may choose not to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. But the flip side of the low yield component is the intensity of the flavor of this grape.