New York Wineries Launch 'Cab Franc Forward' Initiative

No.46 | Regional Reporting

Many of the world’s most well-known and commercially successful wine growing regions have been defined by a signature white and/or red grape variety. In Europe, centuries of wine growing heritage and terroir have shaped what varieties have become synonymous with a given region. Outside of Europe, the journey towards defining a region’s signature grape(s) is often a long and complicated one. But it has proven to be a successful strategy for putting a region on the world wine map, as evidenced by success stories like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or Argentinian Malbec.

I have long thought that Cabernet Franc could eventually emerge as a signature grape for the state of New York. With over 638 acres (258 hectares) planted, it is the state’s #1 planted red vitis vinifera variety and the second most planted vinifera variety overall behind Riesling. With the exception of the coldest growing regions in the northern part of the state, namely the Upper Hudson and t…