Cabernet Franc is a venerable grape variety; DNA analysis has shown that, along with Sauvignon Blanc, it is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.

But it rather hides in the shadow of its better known offspring, lurking in the lower reaches of the global top 20 most-planted varieties while Cabernet Sauvignon is the clear number one, according to 2015 OIV figures.

While the latter is a true globetrotter, plantings of the former are largely concentrated in Bordeaux, other areas in southwest France, and the Loire Valley. Also according to the 2010 figures from the University of Adelaide there were 36,302 hectares (89,704 acres) of Cabernet Franc in France, compared with 6314ha (15,602 acres) in Italy and 2215ha (5473 acres) in the US. Both Hungary and Chile are gaining plaudits for their work with this variety, and have probably exceeded their 2010 figures of around 1350ha (3300 acres)