The red grape variety comes either from France (Bordeaux) or from Spain (Basque Country = País Vasco). There are about 80 synonyms that testify to its great age and worldwide distribution. The most important ones, grouped alphabetically by country are Achéria, Ardounet, Arrouya, Bidure, Boubet, Bouchet Franc, Bouchet Saint-Émilion, Bouchy, Breton, Cabernet Aunis, Cabernet Francese, Cabernet Franc Noir, Cabernet Gris, Cabrunet, Capbreton Rouge, Carmenet, Couahort, Crouchen Negre, Crouchen Noir, Gros Bouchet, Gros Cabernet, Gros Vidure, Messanges Rouge, Morenoa Veron Bouchy, Noir Major, Plant Breton, Plant de l'Abbé Breton, Sable Rouge, Trouchet, Trouchet Noir, Véron, Vidure, Vuidure(France); Tsapournako(Greece); Cabernet Franc Crni(Croatia); Cabernet Bresciano, Cabernet Frank(Italy); Bordo(Romania); Bordeaux(Switzerland); Verdejilla Tinto(Spain).
Although it appears to have synonyms or morphological similarities, it should not be confused with the Ardonnet, Arrouya, Béquignol Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Gros Cabernet or Hondarribi Beltza varieties. It is a very old variety in Bordeaux, but genetic and historical facts suggest that it originates from the Spanish Basque Country. According to one hypothesis, Cabernet Franc was introduced to Spain under the name Achéria by pilgrims from Irouléguy (French Basque Country) on their way to Santiago de Compostela (Galicia). But it is also possible to think of the opposite way from Spain to France.
According to an unlikely and unverifiable...
