Japan Winery Map

Know the grapes

Cabernet Francカベルネ・フラン

Wineries growing it
47
Awards
40
Years with awards
2005–2026

Lighter in colour and tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, with a herbal, green-edged aroma.

A parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, it ripens comparatively early, which helps it in cool regions and places with a short autumn. Red-fruit aromas are often layered with green, herbal, bell-pepper notes, and the tannin is moderate and smooth. In Japan it is planted in Nagano, Yamanashi and elsewhere, bottled on its own or blended with Merlot and others. It works well with tomato-based dishes and herb-seasoned meat.

France (Bordeaux and the Loire)raspberryherbsbell pepper

Notes on aroma and taste describe general tendencies for this grape, not claims about any particular wine — the actual character depends on the producer and how it is made.

For this grape we have not yet confirmed a primary source for its origin or growing regions. (Winery entries always carry a source and the date it was checked.)

Cabernet Franc at the Japan Wine Competition

40 awards in the published results carry “Cabernet Franc” in the entry name, across 7 wineries and 17 years. These are read from the entry names, not from declared grape composition, so wines whose names do not mention the grape are not included.

  • Gold 3
  • Silver 9
  • Bronze 26

Wineries with the most awards

Ordered by how many awards we list. Producers differ in how many wines they entered and in how many years they entered, so this is not a ranking of quality.

Wines that have won more than once

Grouped by producer and wine, showing those with three or more awards. Names come from the published entry names, with the vintage removed because each row spans several vintages.

By year

Wineries growing Cabernet Franc

47 listed wineries are recorded by their sources as growing this grape.