Cabernet Blanc
Strong resistance to botrytis, downy and powdery mildew. Loose-clustered, thick-skinned berries that hang late, suitable for dessert wines or full ripening. Cabernet-Sauvignon-derived aromatic profile in white form. Most planted in Pfalz, G
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -10°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- Moderate
- Disease tolerance
- Very high
- Drainage need
- Moderately Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Graft requirement
- Graft Recommended
- US availability
- Rare
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -10°F. Handles a normal cold-climate winter, but a hard freeze is a risk.
Needs roughly 2400 growing degree-days to ripen, an early-season variety (Winkler I-II). Finishes early, well before a hard fall frost.
Foliar-disease pressure is moderate for this variety, a regular spray program in a humid climate. Regular cover sprays through the wet months.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
Moderate vigor. Easier to balance; tolerates more fertile ground.
Moderate heat tolerance. Comfortable across a moderate heat range.
Moderate water demand. Average moisture needs for a wine grape.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-tolerant: own-rooted vines are fine.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growSauvignac
Same heat band (moderate) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Aromella
Same heat band (moderate) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Seyval Blanc
Same heat band (moderate) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Vidal Blanc
Same heat band (moderate) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Souvignier Gris
Same Winkler band (I-II) · Both moderate diurnal dependence
Valvin Muscat
Same heat band (moderate) · Same ripening class (mid)
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksLouise Swenson
Better black rot resistance · Tolerates 23°F more winter cold
La Crescent
Tolerates 26°F more winter cold · Same role (dry table)
Frontenac Gris
Tolerates 20°F more winter cold · Same role (dry table)
Itasca
Tolerates 21°F more winter cold · Same role (dry table)
Edelweiss
Tolerates 20°F more winter cold · Same role (dry table)
Prairie Star
Tolerates 26°F more winter cold · Same role (dry table)
Could Cabernet Blanc grow on your land?
See how Cabernet Blanc scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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