TL;DR Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare red California grape that is originally from France (where it’s called Mourtaou). This peppery grape makes light to medium-bodied wines with bright red fruit flavors like cranberry, pomegranate, and apple.
Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare California grape whose cult-like following can’t get enough of its bright red fruit and peppery heft. The grape, which has no relation to Cabernet Sauvignon, has a fascinating history that begins in France, and ends in California’s Cienega Valley.
If you have a thing for light red wines that work for every season and every occasion, then you will love Cabernet Pfeffer. And, if you need another reason to try this variety: the only wineries that have access to this grape are small, family-owned wineries that craft minimal intervention wines.
When I get to put my wine copywriter hat on for my personal wine blog, I love to do deep dives on obscure grapes, like this. There are so many rare grape varieties out there that are amazingly quaffable and a joy to sip.
What is Cabernet Pfeffer?
Cabernet Pfeffer is a rare red grape originally from Bordeaux (where it’s called Mourtaou). This wine can be light to medium-bodied and have a pleasant peppery kick that complements its vibrant red fruit notes. Most of the 22 acres planted in California are in the Cienega Valley AVA.
What does Cabernet Pfeffer taste like?
Cabernet Pfeffer is a light to medium-bodied wine with notes of pomegranate, cranberry, and other bright red fruit flavors. The wine has a peppery flavor that teeters between white and black pepper. While this grape is pretty tannic, it makes great glou glou style wines, and many producers market their wines as chillable reds. In that way, the profile is similar to Counoise.
Another fun fact about Cabernet Pfeffer: Winemakers sometimes use carbonic maceration with this grape to create bouncy, lighter red wines.
Where is Cabernet Pfeffer from?
The name William Pfeffer is synonymous with the Cabernet Pfeffer grape – and not just because Pfeffer’s last name happens to mean ‘pepper’ in German. Theories abound as to whether the grape is named after its famous cultivator, or if the name comes from its peppery flavor profile.
What we do know about the history of this grape in California is that in the late 1800s, after William Pfeffer discovered the distinct red fruit characteristics of the Mourtaou grape, he planted it in his Lincoln District Vineyard in Saratoga (which is part of California’s Santa Clara Valley AVA). This helped popularize the variety, within region. Unfortunately, the grape was not planted after Prohibition, so plantings today are sparse.
It’s unclear who imported the original cuttings from France, or why the grape was not replanted immediately after Prohibition ended. But one thing is clear: according to UC Davis, who conducted DNA testing on the grape, Cabernet Pfeffer is not related to Cabernet Sauvignon or Trousseau.
How many acres of Cabernet Pfeffer are there?
As of 2023, there are roughly 22 acres of Cabernet Pfeffer in the world, distributed across 6 vineyards in California. Most of the vineyards are centered around Monterey County, in San Benito / Cienega Valley. The newest vineyard planted to this rare variety is the High Camp Vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA.
Vineyards growing this grape
Wirz Vineyard is an old-vine block that was planted in the early 1900s. Cabernet Pfeffer grows in a field blend block that also contains Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trousseau, and Grand Noir. Grand Noir is an obscure grape variety that is a cross of Petit Bouschet and Aramon Noir.
Enz Vineyard is one of the younger Cab Pfeffer vineyards – the vineyards are around 30 years old.
Siletto Vineyard was planted in 1992 from cuttings from El Gabilan vineyard (now Gemelli) in the Cienega Valley.
Gemelli Vineyard is an old-vine vineyard. In 2022, they added 7 acres of this spicy red grape.
De Rose Vineyards is located in Hollister. Their old-vine Cabernet Pfeffer was planted in 1905.
*NEW* High Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles AVA is planted to 10 grape varieties, including Cabernet Pfeffer which was added in 2022.
Where to buy Cabernet Pfeffer wines
Broc Cellars – The SOGI bottling is a blend of Siletto and Enz Vineyards.
Jolie-Laide – Has crafted stand alone Cabernet Pfeffer wines, and a 2021 bottling with 45% Trousseau Noir, 30% Cabernet Pfeffer, 20% Valdiguié and 5% Gamay.
Ser Winery – Winemaker Nicole Walsh also produces a canned Cabernet Pfeffer for Maker Wine.
Kobza Wines – The former winemaker for Ian Brand also produces a rosé interpretation.
High Camp Wines – Their High Camp Vineyard, located in the San Miguel District of the Paso Robles AVA, is home to California’s newest planting.
Filomena Wine Co. – Winemaker Luke Nio sources from High Camp Vineyard.
Bedrock Wine Co. – (does not have access to new grapes, but you can buy past vintages).
More Light Red Wines You’ll Love
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What’s the Difference Between Chillable Red Wine and Red Wine?
Awesome to find all this info in one source. Arizona’s Caduceus Cellars also has a small planting of Mourtaou and is making a wine club exclusive 100% bottling of this grape
I had no idea this variety was growing in Arizona. Will have to check out Caduceaus’ offerings! Thanks for the info, Jim.