Vines, like humans, have families and sometimes when you meet the parents of a successful person you might think, now I see where you get your brains, looks or talents from. Most wine drinkers will know the red grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon, best known in Bordeaux reds but if we look at it’s family tree we can see where it gets it qualities from

DNA testing has revealed that superstar variety’s parents are red variety Cabernet Franc and white variety Sauvignon Blanc. Perhaps its name being the combination of one word from each parental name should have given us a clue but until 1997 no one knew.

Sauvignon Blanc has swept the world but Cabernet Franc is sadly much less well known. It has some similar fruit characteristics to its offspring but buds and ripens earlier. This means it can ripen in slightly colder regions. It plays a mostly supporting role in Bordeaux in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but it comes into its own further north in the cooler climate of the Loire Valley.

It can be blended there with Cabernet Sauvignon but is usually the sole variety in Loire appellations like Chinon, Anjou Rouge, Bourgueil, St Nicolas de Bourgueil and Saumur and Saumur-Champigny. It has thinner skin than Cabernet Sauvignon so makes wines that are lighter and have less tannins. Aromas and flavours can include blackcurrant and violet but also raspberry and tobacco and in the Loire a light herbaceous note. As its tannins are light it makes a red wine that can be enjoyed chilled. As a chilled light red it can be enjoyed with foods that that might normally be thought to go with white or rosé wines like fish and white meats which makes it a great summer red. You might say it’s a red that white wine drinkers who don’t like red can enjoy.

Wines Tasted on the Show

La Martinière St Nicolas de Bourgueil 2013, Mitchells. €14.99 reduced from €17.99.

An elegant scented wine with raspberry and an herbaceous note and refreshingly just 12% alcohol.

Chateau de Champteloup Anjou Rouge 2013, Aldi €7.99.

Loire reds aren’t exactly mass market and are usually found in good independent merchants, so hats off to Aldi for including this bargain in the their current French wines September sale.