Considered to be made from one of the world’s major black grape varieties, Cabernet Franc produces a popular wine that is enjoyed by people all over the world. It is one of the five major grape varieties in Bordeaux and ranks up there with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Merlot.

Because of its moderately high acidity and tannin levels, this wine pairs extremely well with tomato-based dishes. It is so good that it has even earned its own holiday — a day that is aptly known as Cabernet Franc Day, observed annually on the 4th of December. Sounds like the perfect day of the year to grab a bottle and enjoy it with friends and family.

The History of Cabernet Franc Day

Sometime during the 17th century, Cabernet Franc was established in the Libournais region of southwest France. This is when cuttings were transported by Cardinal Richelieu to the Loire Valley. These cuttings were planted at the Abbey of Bourgueil.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Cabernet Sauvignon began to gain popularity, and it became clear to many that it was very similar to Cabernet Franc. This would eventually be confirmed in 1997 when DNA evidence showed that Cabernet Franc had crossed with Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon.

Although Cabernet Franc has been grown in France for over three centuries, the holiday celebrating this wine hasn’t been around that long. This holiday was created in 2015 to celebrate and officially recognize this premium grape variety and the wine made from it. It has continued to be a holiday during which people can enjoy this delicious wine.

Fun Facts About Cabernet Franc

We all know this wine is extremely delicious, but to be honest, we didn’t know much else about it. That’s why we decided to dig deep into this wine and find out everything we could uncover about it. The following bulleted list contains some of the fascinating facts we were able to uncover. We hope that they prove educational to everyone celebrating Cabernet Franc Day.

• Even though it originates in France, Cabernet Franc is also grown in the U.S. and Italy.
• Cabernet Franc can be used to make a wide variety of different wines.
• Cabernet Franc has notes of strawberry, bell pepper, and black cherry.

Observing Cabernet Franc Day

The hardest part of enjoying Cabernet Franc Day is figuring out what to pair with this tasty wine. This wine is traditionally paired with tomato-based dishes, but we know that it can be paired with a variety of other dishes quite easily. We think it pairs well with beef stews, burgers, roasted pork, roasted lamb, and venison as well.

We also think that it pairs well with eggplant, red peppers, and arugula. No matter what one chooses to pair with this wine, people should take the time to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #CabernetFrancDay on social media.