National Cabernet Day

Ease into fall in the best way possible by celebrating the King of Reds with a flavorful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon! Ending the month of August on the last Thursday before Labor Day is National Cabernet Day! This August 29th, seek out our rich, dry, full-bodied Cabernets for a wine made from the best of both grapes!

History

Cabernet Sauvignon was created in the seventeenth century as a happy accident of crossing a red Cabernet Franc grape plant with a white Sauvignon Blanc plant in the vineyards of Bordeaux, France. This cross was only discovered from an original DNA test at UC Davis in 1996. From the 1600s to now, this robust wine still calls France home, with Bordeaux leading the production of exceptional Cabernet and blends aging over decades loved worldwide. Since growing internationally, the top-performing regions for Cabernet are Italy, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, South America, and the United States, particularly Napa Valley, CA. It is the most planted wine grape in the world, spanning around 840,000 acres. “The King of Reds” inherited its name from its incomparable quality, adaptability, and marketability. With its solid vines and thick skin, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape has a substantial nature that can be easily cultivated in production techniques, making it resilient against frost and rot. In popular addition, the ability to be combined wonderfully with other red grape varieties makes for a flavourful presence in frequent blends with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The taste of Cabernet Sauvignon is bolder than most other red wines, having deep flavors of dark fruits, liquorice, hints of pepper, oak, and firm tannins. Its alcohol content typically ranges from 13-15%, sometimes hitting as high as 14.5-15%.

Special Facts

Like other red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is among the healthier wines, containing polyphenols known for their antioxidant properties and being a positive for gut health. While more nutritious, it can also be a gentle sleep aid with red wine’s higher alcohol concentration that brings a calming sedative and melatonin. Cabernet pairs with dark meats, aged cheeses, semi-sweet chocolates, and mushrooms to bring out the firm tannins. Food pairings to avoid are starches, like pasta, most fishes, strong cheeses, and any delicate dish that can get overpowered by the rich heartiness of the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon overall is a bold, classy statement of a drink that symbolizes a strong personality, a worldly view, and a talent to engage with just about anyone. 

Our Favorites

Our goal at He Wines She Dines is to bring the finest of wines to you. To properly celebrate the “King of the Reds,” we wanted to share some of our favorites. To begin, our Companion Wines Companion Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a vintage wine that lives up to the exceptionality of Cabernets from its French region. The tannins are smooth, with intense oak and blackberry, and accompanied by a hint of tobacco. This wine would pair well with a red meat entree like a savory piece of lamb or a flavourful filet mignon, followed by a dark chocolate dessert. 

One of our newest releases, Companion Wines Ominous Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, is an excellent choice. Ominous is pure Alexander Valley fruit, yet full and dark with a naturally red finish that hints at tobacco and pepper. A Spanish monastery inspired its name and reminds one of Cataluña’s dark fruits. This wine has soft tannins, lighter oak notes, and a spicy finish.

Another popular Cabernet is the Austin Hope Posa Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. This Cab brings fall to your lips with its subtle notes of dried spices, mocha, and violets. Amidst its deep ruby color, the aroma indicates black currants, blackberries, and ripe black cherries. This Cab pairs well with aged and sharp cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, parmesan, and crumbly blue cheese.