Ampelos
Red grape

Gros Cabernet

France

A rare red grape of south-western France, known now as one of the two parents of Carménère.

Sensory profile

Characteristics

LightFull
LowHigh
LowHigh
Bone-dryVery sweet
Color depth
PaleDeep
Typical alcohol12.0–13.5% ABV
8%16%

Flavor & aroma

rareconservatory variety

At a glance

Production facts

Prevalence

Rare

Climate

Moderate climate

Ripening

Mid season

Wine styles

Still

Where it's grown

Geography

Shaded areas are the state, province or département(s) containing each region, so they run wider than the appellations themselves.

France

South-west France (reference collections)

Kept in vine collections, not made as a wine of its own.

Background

Origin & History

Gros Cabernet is a rare old variety of south-western France. Its importance is genetic: a 2009 DNA study led by Jean-Michel Boursiquot identified it as one parent of Carménère, the other being Cabernet Franc.

Lineage

Family tree

Parentage not recorded — Gros Cabernet is an old variety of unknown origin. Click a related grape to explore its own lineage.

Gros Cabernet
Carménère
Cabernet Franc
This grapeAncestors & descendantsSiblings & co-parents