(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.
Terras do Sado is a Portuguese wine region covering most of the Sado river region. The area is classified as a Vinho Regional (VR), a designation similar to a French vin de pay region. With the Setúbal DOC to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the region is almost completely surrounded by the Alentejo VR. Red wines produced under the Terras do Sado VR must contain a blend of at least 50% Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Moscatel Roxo, Periquita, Tinta Amarela and [[Touriga Nacional. The remaining 50% can include Alfrocheiro Preto, Alicante Bouschet, Bastardo, Carignan, Grand noir, Monvedro, Moreto and Tinta Miuda. The white wines of the region must contain at least 50% Arinto, Chardonnay, Fernao Pires, Malvasia Fina, Muscat of Alexandria and Roupeiro. The remaining 50% can include Antao Vaz, Esgana Cao, Sauvignon blanc, Rabo de Ovelha, Trincadeira das Pratas and Ugni blanc.
|
