- Origin: Basque country (Pais Vasco) Spain.
- Where its grown: France (Bordeaux, Loire Valley), Italy, USA (California, Washington, New York), Chile, Hungary, South-Africa. Hungary is fifth in the world in terms of Cabernet Franc plantations, with more than 1400ha Within Hungary, Villány has the the largest vineyard area with 336ha.
- Climate: It has good adaptability, strives in Europe’s moderate maritime and continental climate. In the New world, Cabernet Franc does best in Mediterranean climate. Villány’s moderate continental climate perfectly suits Cabernet Franc.
- Soil preference: It has good adaptability for the different soil types, like limestone, clay, loess, loam, brown forest floor, and alluvial. In the Villány region the soil types are limestone, loess, clay and brown forest floor soil.
- Viticultural characteristics: Growers enjoy working with Cabernet Franc as it is a vigorous variety, budding and ripening earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. The harvest in Villány is rather predictable between the last week of September and mid-October. Prone to coulure.
- Structure: With vivid-mid acidity, high velvety tannin, fuller body and quite intense flavor characters, the structure of the Villányi Franc is heavier than the known thinner Loire style.
- Flavor characteristic: The Villányi Franc flavors are riper and deeper than the Loire valley Cabernet Franc, mostly black fruits such as black cherry, black plum, blueberry combined with some red fruits such as sour cherry, cherry, red current, and raspberry. Some black pepper with earthy character, and due to the use of small oak, an abundance of sweet, dark chocolate and tobacco.
- Maturing & wine styles: While the Loire style Cabernet Franc uses just a little oak, or none at all, the Villányi Franc is traditionally aged in oak (225-500L new and used) for 6-24 months, depending on the quality and classification level.
- Ageing potential: Depends on the classification level of the Villányi Franc, but each category has its own serious ageing potential. The basic, Classicus category suggests the ageing potential is 2-4 years, while the Premium category is between 5-10 years, and the Super Premium category can keep up to 15 years.
- Market position and potential: Domestically the Villányi Franc is one of the most well-known premium red wine brand of Hungary. Internationally Villányi Franc has huge potential on the global market, like premium quality solely Cabernet Franc made varietal red wine. Apart from the Loire, very few wine regions produce Cabernet Franc-like varietal wines, and within these regions, none of them represent such a unique Mediterranean style, mature red wine as does Villányi Franc.
Cabernet Franc
