Red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a relatively young varietal, having only developed in the last 400 years. For most of its known existence, it was surrounded by conjecture, myth, and supposition as to what it's origin actually was. From tales of ancient rome and the wines referenced by Pliny the Elder, to suspicion of a close relation to Carmenere, as well as tales of origins in Rioja, it wasn't until 1996 when UC Davis scientist Carole Meredith was able to use DNA typing to identify that Cabernet Sauvignon was in fact the offspring of cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc. Before it was officially confirmed there were large suspicions that this was the case due to the grape sharing similar qualitative characteristics with both parent varieties. This chance crossing most likely occurred during the 17th century somewhere in soutwestern france, however it remains unconfirmed.