The red grape variety originates either from France (Bordeaux) or from Spain (Basque Country = País Vasco). There are around 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, Grosse Vidure, Messanges Rouge, Morenoa Veron Bouchy, Noir Dur, 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).
Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it must not be confused with the varieties Ardonnet, Arrouya, Béquignol Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Gros Cab ernet or Hondarribi Beltza. It is a very old variety in Bordeaux, but genetic and historical facts point to an origin in 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). However, the reverse route from Spain to France is also conceivable.
According to an unlikely and unverifiable...
