Viticultural Information
Cabernet franc
Description
Species: Vitis vinifera The variety may have been established in Bordeaux in the seventeenth century. Cabernet franc is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but differs by smaller, compact, and mostly cylindrical clusters; in petiolar sinus; and teeth in lateral sinuses. Clusters are tighter than Cabernet Sauvignon due to greater berry set. Commonly cordon trained and spur pruned, Cabernet franc may also be head trained and cane pruned. It is easily hedged and a good candidate for mechanical pruning if not cane pruned. This can be a higher-yielding variety than Cabernet Sauvignon due to greater set. Late and uneven veraison is common, thus cluster thinning at this time is usually warranted to enhance ripening uniformity. Occasionally set may be reduced by shelling; however, this occurs much less severely than in Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
People
Links
Foundation Plant Services at UC Davis is the source of Foundation grapevine material for the nursery industry, and the staff can provide information about possible sources for obtaining this stock. The National Grape Registry (NGR) contains information about varieties of wine, juice, and table grapes, raisins, and grape rootstocks available in the United States. Growers, nurseries, winemakers and researchers can find background information and source contacts for those grape varieties in this single convenient location.
Publications
Smith, R. 2003. Cabernet franc (PDF). Pages 32-35 in: Wine Grape Varieties in California. L. Peter Christensen (ed), University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources, Publication 3419, Oakland. Buy book
NGR Match
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