cabernet franc

noun

cab·​er·​net franc ˌka-bər-ˈnā-ˈfräŋk 

-ˈfräⁿ

variants often Cabernet franc

: a full-bodied red wine that is often blended with cabernet sauvignon and merlot in the production of Bordeaux-style wines

also : the grape itself

Examples of cabernet franc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wines from this region are often made with pinot noir, cabernet franc or tannat, and tend to have savory depth, good acidity and mineral notes. —Rachel King, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

Look for notes of watermelon and cotton candy alongside cabernet franc's signature subtle spiciness and a full, round body. —Seth Eli Barlow, Arkansas Online, 27 May 2025

The sparkling wines are also delicious, as well as the cabernet franc. —Liz Thach, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Colorado has a relatively young wine scene but generates around two percent of all wine sold in the U.S. Riesling, cabernet franc, malbec, teroldego, and viognier are beacons of the state's wine scene. —Alessandra Amodio, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "pure cabernet"; cabernet, grape variety (with variants in 19th-century Médoc carbenet, carmenet), of obscure origin

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cabernet franc

• antitank
• interbank
• mountebank
• riverbank
• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank