Uncovering America's best kept wine secrets
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the CEO of red wine. It's bold, structured, and not here to mess around. It’s powerful, polished, and plays the long game. Cab Sauv is the most popular red wine in the United States.
Cabernet Sauvignon is Bold, Powerful, and Velvety. If you like Petit Sirah, Syrah, or Malbec, you may enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon for its similar profile.
Flavors
Blackberry jam
Roasted red plum
Bell peppers
Freshly ground coffee
Cedar spice box
Imagine biting into a square of dark chocolate after a bite of herb-crusted grilled steak. It's rich, intense, and built to linger.
Cabernet Sauvignon will almost always taste like a bold, full-bodied red wine, but tasting notes help show the differences between regions. Compared to Pinot Noir, Cabernet comes across much darker and heavier, with flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, and sometimes green pepper or tobacco. Napa Valley Cab tends to be plush and ripe, with rich black fruit and smooth tannins, while Bordeaux leans more savory and structured, with a leaner edge. Even when you see flavors like cassis or chocolate listed, don’t expect it to taste sweet. Cab is dry and often pretty powerful, with firm tannins that make it perfect alongside food. And because it’s so widely grown, there’s always something new to discover, from Washington’s bold reds to Paso Robles’ fruit-forward styles.
Acid
Cabernet Sauvignon carries medium acidity that balances its tannins and bold dark fruit structure.
Tannin
Cabernet is the benchmark sandpaper wine. It has firm, powerful tannins that demand age or food to soften them.
Alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon is often 13–15.5% with Napa regularly hitting the top. California sunshine drives ripeness and alcohol while cooler spots like Washington or higher elevations can keep it just under 14%. Big tannins and oak integrate the alcohol but you will still notice the power.
Serving Temp
60–65°F (just under room temp)
Chill for 15–20 minutes in the fridge before opening, or decant and serve slightly cool for a smoother taste.
Food Pairing
Takeout: Bacon cheeseburger with all the fixings
Snack: Bacon-wrapped dates
From the Fridge: Lamb kebabs
Elevated Pairing: Wagyu beef with bone marrow demi-glace
Where you'll find it
Born in Bordeaux, France, Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, now one of the world’s most widely planted red grapes.
California
Napa Valley is the superstar (especially Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap); Paso Robles and Sonoma also shine.
Washington
Walla Walla and Red Mountain offer leaner, more structured styles.
Texas
Grown in the High Plains- Cab tolerates heat well and blends beautifully
Virginia
East Coast Cab can be earthier and more restrained, often blended.
Arizona
Small but growing. It's usually rich, ripe, and warm-climate expressive.
The Last Drop
Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc (a red with a white wine parent!) All three of these grapes display notes of grass, green bell pepper, and sometimes even jalapeño.