Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine is one of the most widely recognized varieties in the world today. It grows in most of the wine producing regions of the world, but, in California, it has become widely recognized as one of the dominant features of viniculture of the state. In 1976 when a Red Wine from Napa beat all the best French Cabernet Red Wines of the time at the "Judgement of Paris", Cabernet Sauvignon from California exploded on to the scene with new found recognition from its European counterparts.

In California, Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine has developed its own characteristic style and reputation, where production and plantings of the grape in are very similar to those of Bordeaux region.

One of the reasons for the prominance of Cabernet Sauvignon in California is that an epidemic of phylloxera hit California in the 1980s, devastating many vineyards, which needed replanting. Plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon doubled between 1988 and 1998 and many wine regions, such as Napa Valley and Sonoma's Alexander Valley, became almost completely dominated by the grape variety. It also began to gain prominance in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Mountain and Mendocino County.  If you would like to get a first hand look at Sonoma and Napa Wine Country there is an excellent tour at Wine Country Tours who hosts one of the most premier tours of Napa and Sonoma Wine Country.

Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine from Sonoma County has shown a tendency to feature anise and black olive notes, where Napa County Cabernets are characterized by their strong black fruit flavors.

The main stylistic difference in Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine in California is between hillside or mountain vineyards and those on flatter terrain like valley floors. In Napa, there are some hillside vineyards that have thinner, less fertile soils which produces a smaller berry that creates a more intense flavor, reminiscent of Bordeaux wines that require many years of aging to reach maturity. Wines produced from hillside vineyards tend have deep colors and strong berry aromas.