Best Cabernet Franc: 16 award-winning wines to try

When someone mentions Cabernet Franc, your mind will likely turn to France. The variety is widely grown in Bordeaux, where it plays an important role in blends alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, often in smaller proportions. For single-varietal Cabernet Franc, however, the Loire Valley remains the benchmark, with the cooler climate of Touraine particularly well suited to producing expressive examples of the grape.

Yet while Cabernet Franc has its roots in France, the variety has established a foothold in wine regions across the world. Traditionally used in Bordeaux-style blends, where it contributes distinctive herbaceous notes and aromas of green bell pepper, Cabernet Franc is increasingly being recognised for its potential as a standalone variety. From China to Brazil, winemakers are embracing its versatility, producing wines that range from fresh and fruit-forward to structured and age-worthy. With bright raspberry fruit, supple tannins and refreshing acidity, the best examples offer immediate drinking pleasure, although more concentrated styles can also reward time in the cellar.

cabernet franc grapes — Top Cabernet Franc wines from the IWSC 2026 hail from Argentina, Canada, Brazil and Turkey

This year’s IWSC results demonstrate just how international the variety has become. From this year’s judging, the two Gold medal-winning Cabernet Franc wines to emerge came from Canada and Turkey, while high-scoring Silver medals were awarded to wines from Italy, Argentina, Brazil and China.

The two Gold medals went to Canada’s Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2023 and Turkey’s Likya Wines Winery Collection Cabernet Franc 2025. The latter impressed judges with its character, ‘underpinned by youthful vibrancy and a hint of earthy complexity’, while the Canadian example stood out for ‘an intriguing blend of mature black fruit, green leaf and subtle cigar box aromas’.

Indeed, Canada enjoyed a particularly strong showing at this year’s judging, with Canadian producers accounting for a further ten places on the list below. Among the highest-scoring Silver medal winners were Monte Creek Winery Living Land Cabernet Franc 2023 and Inniskillin Reserve Cabernet Franc 2023. The latter earned praise for its classic aromas of intense peppery spice and black olives, highlighting the variety’s distinctive savoury character.

South America also made its mark, with two standout examples each earning 91 points and a Silver medal. Judges praised the lively acidity of Argentina’s Bodegas Etchart Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2025, while Brazil’s Vinícola UVVA Microlote Cabernet Franc 2022 impressed with its ‘lingering cherry finish with savoury complexity’.

From established wine regions to emerging Cabernet Franc producers, this year’s results showcase the variety’s growing international appeal. Discover the best Cabernet Franc wines, as judged by the IWSC 2026.

HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE WINES?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

HOW DO WE SCORE THESE WINES?

Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

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