SOUTH AMERICAN CABERNET FRANC

An essential ingredient in many great wines, Cabernet Franc never quite seems to have received its due in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux or Tuscany – an injustice that winemakers in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are looking to put right. Even though just 3,000ha are under vine, South America has been doing a lot more to improve its reputation than many Old World producers. In the warm, dry conditions found in South American vineyards, Cabernet Franc ripens better, with fewer pyrazines (which give a leafy, green pepper character) and gentler tannins.

In Argentina, there is already talk about the rise of ‘Franc’ even though there are only 1,146ha under vine (compared with 40,000ha of Malbec). It partners well with Malbec, bringing