Cabernet Sauvignon is an international red grape variety native to the Gironde region, in the Bordeaux area, where it became established between the 17th and 18th centuries. Genetic analyses have revealed that it derives from a spontaneous cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, an unusual combination of a red and a white variety. The leaf is medium-sized, generally round or pentagonal, often divided into five or seven lobes, with a moderately downy underside and an open, U- or V-shaped petiole sinus. The bunch is small to medium in size, cylindrical or conical, compact and frequently winged; the berry, spheroidal and of medium size, has a thick, pruinose, blue-black skin, rich in colouring and tannic compounds. A late-ripening variety, the vine expresses its qualities best in temperate, sunny areas with a long growing season. It is now widespread across all the major wine-producing countries and, in Italy, finds particularly favourable conditions in Tuscany – especially along the coast and in the Maremma – as well as in Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, Sicily and other regions. The wine is characterised by its intense ruby colour, often tending towards garnet as it ages, and by aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, violet, aromatic herbs, spices, tobacco and cedar. Its substantial structure, underpinned by acidity and tannins, ensures remarkable longevity and refined complexity over time.
