Yes, that’s right, there is an International Cabernet Day, and yes, you do need to celebrate! It falls on Thursday 2nd September this year, so get your Cabernet in now!
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape, and if you take a look at a bunch of grapes on a vine, it has thick black skins. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.
While many grape varieties are known for their friendly fruit aromas, cabernet sauvignon’s success as a fine wine lies in its subtleties: secondary, complex flavours that have the potential to develop deliciously in bottle over time. For this reason, cabernet is often seen as quite a ‘serious’ red wine designed for cellaring and keeping for many years. However, you can certainly find younger, fruitier styles to help you explore the flavours of this iconic grape.
As a wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its dark color, full-body, and alcohol content that is over 13.5%, with most Cabernet Sauvignons, especially those from places such as California, Australia, and Chile, being more like 14.5% and sometimes even going over 15%. The wine is dry (not sweet) and has a healthy level of tannin, which is why your mouth dries out when you sip it. Many people who drink Cabernet Sauvignon say they always pick up a taste of green pepper in the wine, along with tobacco, cassis, and dark fruits such as cherries, along with a hint of vanilla that comes from the wine aging in the oak.
Cabernet Sauvignon food pairing is best with nearly all red meat, including prime rib, New York strip, and filet mignon. Also, try lamb or pepper-crusted ahi tuna. The wine is best enjoyed with food and is great in sauces or reductions.
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