Wassmann, 2016 Cabernet Franc, Villány, Hungary

No.42 | What's In My Glass

Since I started this project, perhaps one of the most surprising places where Cabernet Franc appears as a star varietal in single varietal wines is Hungary. When we think of Hungarian wine, generally Tokaj is the first thing to come to mind, with Bikavér (or Bull’s Blood), a Kékfrankos-based red blend, being the country’s second most well-known wine style. But as the country’s fifth most planted variety with about 1450 hectares (about 3600 acres) under vine, Cabernet Franc is emerging as an important second red grape (after Kékfrankos) that many producers are choosing to elevate as a signature wine in their ranges.

Cabernet Franc is planted in every single region in the country (even Tokaj!), and the leading regions for the variety are Villány in the south with about 340 hectares, followed by Eger and Skekszárd (the two regions authorized to produce Bikavér) with 253 hectares and 235 hectares, respectively. But it is Villány that is really banking on Cabernet Franc to be their star var…