The red grape variety originates from France. There are around 60 synonyms that testify to its age and worldwide distribution in many wine-growing countries. Some, grouped alphabetically by country, are Franzosenrebe (Germany); Kaberne Sovinjon, Kaberne Sovinyon, Lafite (Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia); Bidure, Bouchet, Bouchet Sauvignon, Breton, Cabernet Petit, Cabernet Piccolo, Cabernet Sauvignon Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon Petit, Carbonet, Carbouet, Carmenet, Castet, Enfin, Epicier Noir, Marchoupet, Navarre, Petit Bouchet, Petit Bouschet, Petit Cabernet, Petit Cavernet Sauvignon, Petite Parde, Petite Vidure, Sauvignon, Sauvignonne, Vidure, Vidure Petite, Vidure Sauvignonne, Vigne Dure (France); Bordo (Romania); Bordeaux (Switzerland); Burdeos Tinto (Peru, Spain); Cab (USA).
The name Bidure has led to the assumption that Cabernet Sauvignon could be descended from the ancient variety Biturica, which was mentioned by Columella (1st century BC) and Pliny the Elder (23-79). Another hypothesis names the ancient Spanish variety Cocolubis as the ancestor of Biturica and later Cabernet Sauvignon. And Greek ampelographers hypothesised the variety Volitsa Mavri as a descendant of Balisca (Biturica) and ancestor of the vine. All hypotheses have been refuted by the now clarified parentage. It is a much younger variety that probably originated in the Gironde region (Bordeaux) at least before the 18th century.
Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) is credited with a possible contribution to the creation of the variety in France. In 1631, he sent several thousand vines from Bordeaux to the abbey of Bourgueil (Loire) and ordered Abbé Breton to plant them. It was probably the Cabernet Franc variety. After the abbot propagated the vine, it was named Plant de l'Abbé Breton. It is possible that Cabernet Sauvignon was subsequently created there through a natural cross between Cabernet Franc x Sauvignon Blanc.
It was first mentioned in the mid-1770s by the mayor of Libourne (Gironde) under Petit Cabernet. It was not until the end of the 18th century that the variety became increasingly popular in Bordeaux. Special merits are attributed to Armand d'Armailhacq and Baron Hector de Brane, the owners of Château Brane-Cantenac and Château...
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Dominik Trick
Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg