Cabaret Noir

Cabaret Noir is an interspecific hybrid grape variety developed in Switzerland in 1991 by Valentin Blattner. It is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and an undisclosed hybrid parent. This variety should not be confused with Salin Noir, another grape created by Blattner in the same year, likely sharing similar parentage. Cabaret Noir is primarily grown in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and England, but remains relatively unknown in France.

Cabaret Noir wines are deep red with a dark, intense hue. The variety produces full-bodied wines with smooth tannins, making them suitable for aging. The wines showcase aromas of juniper berries, blackcurrant, black cherry, clove, redcurrant, dried herbs, blackberry, blueberry, and smoky, peppery, and vanilla notes. When vinified as a rosé, the wines can develop an elegant salmon-pink color with fresh and complex aromatic expression.

Cabaret Noir thrives in mid-altitude regions and is known for its upright growth, vigor, and strong yields. The variety has excellent winter hardiness and natural resistance to common vine diseases, including downy mildew, powdery mildew, and botrytis. It ripens early, making it well-suited to cooler climates where achieving full phenolic maturity can be a challenge for traditional vinifera varieties.

Cabaret Noir is sometimes referred to as 'Cabernet Noir' (not to be confused with Cabernet Franc Noir) and is officially cataloged under the breeding code VB 91-26-04, referencing its creator, Valentin Blattner.