Cabernet Franc: taste, styles and the dishes that match
33 styles and 483 dish scores from our sommelier database
Choosing Cabernet Franc gets easier once you know why it fits. This guide bundles the styles, the taste profile and the best-scoring dishes from our sommelier database — with as the classic.
Taste profile (Wine DNA)
Averaged across the styles in our database, Cabernet Franc shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins.
Well-known Cabernet Franc styles
- Chinon, Bourgueil & Saumur-Champigny · Loire Valley — medium-bodied, pronounced freshness, soft tannins
Classic Loire Cabernet Franc: agile, aromatic red fruit, subtle herbal lift and lively acidity. - Cabernet Franc California · California — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Ripe California Cabernet Franc with fuller body and rounder fruit than its European counterparts. - Saint-Émilion & Pomerol · Bordeaux — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Right Bank Bordeaux where Cabernet Franc brings aromatic lift, freshness and structure alongside Merlot. - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé · Bordeaux — full-bodied, fresh acidity, firm tannins, generous oak ageing
Top-tier Right Bank Bordeaux from Merlot and Cabernet Franc with deep complexity and cellar potential. - Cabernet Franc · New World — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Eenvoudigste kwaliteit rode wijnen van de Cabernet Franc druivensoort (eventueel geblend). - Cabernet Franc USA East Coast · US East Coast — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Eenvoudigste kwaliteit rode wijnen van de Cabernet Franc druivensoort (eventueel geblend). - Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur · Bordeaux — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins
Entry to mid market level of fruity red wines from cabernet sauvignon and merlot based blends with light tannins.
Price-wise Cabernet Franc covers the full range: of the 33 styles in our database, 30% sit in the entry segment, 45% mid-range and 24% at the top end. You will find both a weekday bottle and a cellar-worthy wine in this grape.
The best-scoring dishes with Cabernet Franc
The dishes below come from our expert scoring: every combination was scored by sommeliers using the Wine DNA of both dish and wine. These are the strongest matches for Cabernet Franc styles, from classic to surprising.
- — best style: Chinon
- — best style: Chinon
- — best style: Chinon
- — best style: St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé
- — best style: Pomerol
- — best style: St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé
- — best style: St. Emilion and Pomerol
- — best style: St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé
- — best style: Pomerol
- — best style: Pomerol
- — best style: St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé
- — best style: St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Cabernet Franc taste like?
- Averaged across the styles in our database, Cabernet Franc shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins. It varies by style: see the overview above.
- What food goes with Cabernet Franc?
- The highest scores in our sommelier work: , Roasted Thick skirt, Gravy, Boiled Polenta, Boiled White asparagus, Blanched French beans, Thyme, Fried entrecôte and beef stew. The full list is above.
- Is Cabernet Franc a red wine?
- In our database Cabernet Franc is mostly made as a red wine (33 linked styles); regional exceptions exist.