Raise a glass to the 'king' of red wines

IT'S A popular pub quiz question: "What is the most widely planted wine grape in the world?" It is, perhaps unsurprisingly, cabernet sauvignon. Wine producers like it as it's hardy and resistant to rot and insects; drinkers like it because it's consistent in character and flavour.

- by Matt Nixson

Often it is blended, especially with merlot and cabernet franc (a combination known as the Bordeaux Blend), both in the southwestern French city of Bordeaux, where the grape originated, and around the world. We can thank an accidental crossing of cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc grapes in the 17th century for bringing it into being.