cabernet sauvignon

noun

cab·​er·​net sau·​vi·​gnon ˌka-bər-ˈnā-sō-vin-ˈyän  ˌka-bər-ˈnā-sō-vē-ˈnyōⁿ 

variants often Cabernet Sauvignon

: a full-bodied red wine that is known for its complexity, capacity to age, and tannic structure, that is one of the world's most popular wines, and that is notably produced in Bordeaux, the U.S., South America, and Australia

also : the grape itself

called also cabernet

Examples of cabernet sauvignon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s best known for its zinfandels, and specifically, its old vine zins (many upward of 100 years old) but is also a major producer of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and petite sirah. —Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025

Set among cabernet sauvignon vineyards, the yoga sessions at Montage Healdsburg skillfully blend mindfulness with nature. —Rafael Peña, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025

The 2022 Portrait—a red blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot—was fermented in stainless steel and aged 21 months in French oak. —Rachel King, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Wines that typically require aeration are full-bodied reds, like petite sirah or cabernet sauvignon. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French — more at cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above