Cabernet Franc
Basics: A parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the three main varieties used in Bordeaux blends. In the Loire Vlley of France it is made as a single varietal. Vriginia frequently claims it as "Virginia's red wine." Shows moderately vigorous growth and earlier wood and crop maturation than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Grower  
Comments:
(by County)
  • ANNE ARUNDEL: Consistent performance, low disease presure, shoots climb well in VSP canopy, no problems in low areas
  • BALTIMORE: Nice wine grape
  • CALVERT: Fruit quality has been good, customers have been pleased, I have orders for 2008 fruit already.
  • CALVERT: It hasn't done well so far.
  • CALVERT: Very, very low vigor and poor winter hardiness on young vines.
  • CALVERT: Vigorous, disease resistant, dependable, high quality fruit
  • CARROLL: Disease prone
  • CARROLL: Does well, winter hardy and it is planted on an eastern slope, here
  • CARROLL: Out of 4 varieties planted, Cab Franc did the best (2007 will be their 3rd leaf)
  • CECIL: Third year vines so we'll see how they bear and hold up with a full load of fruit.
  • FREDERICK: Easy to grow and ripen at reasonable crop levels (< 3 tpa), but much better as a blender - varietal wines are mediocre.
  • FREDERICK: Hardy
  • GARRETT: Most years, just not enough warmth to make red wines; pink wines are regular and good, however.
  • HARFORD: Grows well in this county. Watch overcropping.
  • HOWARD: Their development has been very uneven. Some are going gang-busters; others are struggling, often in the same row.
  • ST. MARY'S: Grows well; have yet to evaluate wine quality.
  • TALBOT: Acceptable under all parameters
Growing  
Recommendations: 		Recommend grafting to 3309 rootstock for good winter hardiness and using VSP (vertical shoot positioning) trellising system as a way of controlling excess vegetation, as it has a tendancy to overcrop. Needs to fully ripen to achieve good color and lessen herbaceousness in its wine.
Winery  
Considerations: 		Earlier-maturing red wine, due to its lower level of tannins. Light- to medium-bodied wine with more immediate fruit than Cabernet Sauvignon and may have some herbaceous odors. Often described as peppery with flavors of of tobacco, raspberry, and cassis.