Ruby Cabernet

Ruby Cabernet is a red grape developed at the University of California, Davis by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Carignan. The breeding work sought useful performance in warmer growing areas as well as wine character. Its name therefore records a particular crossing, not a special grade of Cabernet Sauvignon or a description of a wine's colour.

It is often part of a blend, where colour and fruit can be useful contributions without making Ruby Cabernet the leading name on the bottle. Varietal wines also exist and offer a clearer introduction. The parentage does not require the result to taste exactly like either parent, because vineyard conditions, extraction and maturation still shape the finished expression.

For a dry bottle, think of an informal meal with roast meat, burgers, mushrooms or a rich vegetable dish, then let the actual tannin guide the pairing. Choose modest oak if the purpose is to discover the grape directly. A documented varietal wine tells you more than trying to infer its taste from a large blend with no proportions given.