Winemakers often blend Cabernet Sauvignon with other grape varietals (such as Merlot and Shiraz) as it enhances complexity within the wine whilst giving the fruitier varieties a framework and structure to sit within. The addition of other grapes to Cabernet tends to soften out the harsher tannins.
Cabernet blends from Coonawarra, Margaret River and Langhorne Creek are the most commonly known in Australia with Bordeaux and Languedoc the most iconic regions in France for making Cabernet blends.
