Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied red that tastes of raspberry and sweet pepper, with a pencil-shaving note people either love or never notice at all.
It ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a big help in a Canadian autumn. Most of what's on this page comes from Niagara, with a smaller run out of the Okanagan. The acidity stays firm, so it handles food better than its weight suggests.
In 2018, Grape Growers of Ontario figures put Cabernet Franc first among the province's reds, ahead of Merlot. It handles cold winters. That's why growers can count on a crop. Cabernet Sauvignon gets the fame, but Cabernet Franc is one of its parents.
What it tastes like
That sweet pepper note has a name: pyrazines, natural compounds that show up more in cooler vineyards. Riper vintages and warmer sites tone it down, so the same grape tastes different from bottle to bottle. The tannin is lower than in Cabernet Sauvignon, which is why it drinks well young. Hand it to a friend who finds Cabernet too heavy. Merlot fans who want a little more edge could start here. Looking for more Canadian red wine? That page has the full list. Some wineries also make the grape as a rosé wine.
How to read the label
Niagara Peninsula bottles can name a sub-appellation, such as the Beamsville Bench, Vinemount Ridge or Niagara Lakeshore. These VQA Ontario designations mark off differences in soil and climate. Some labels say only VQA Ontario. The grapes could come from anywhere in the province. Labels aside, each winery ships its own order, so bottles from two wineries might land on different days. That's the trade-off for small-winery wine you rarely see in liquor stores. Buy two from different places and taste them side by side.
Is Cabernet Franc dry or sweet?
Almost all table wine from this grape is dry, even when the fruit tastes ripe and juicy. Icewine is the exception: some wineries here make it from Cabernet Franc, and it's intensely sweet.
What food goes with Cabernet Franc?
Fat and salt do well with it: tourtière, roast pork, mushrooms. Rosemary or a pepper crust picks up its herbal edge. Or keep it simple with a peameal bacon sandwich.
Should you chill Cabernet Franc?
A little. Served warm, the alcohol shows and the fruit goes flat. Twenty minutes in the fridge keeps it fresh and lifted. Aim for a touch below room temperature, around 16 to 18 °C.
