Is Dark Horse Cabernet good?
Dark Horse Cabernet is a fine budget red for about $9: dark, fruity and fairly smooth, though it is simple and a little rough at the edges.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · California · nearly everywhere
- Alcohol
- About 13.5%
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon
- Made by
- Dark Horse, owned by E. & J. Gallo
- From
- California
- Price
- About $8 to $11
- Calories
- About 120 to 130 in a 5 oz glass, like most dry reds
What it tastes like
Blackberry, black cherry and some toasty, smoky oak. Medium-full with moderate grip, and the flavor fades fast.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $9?
It is fine for the money. Spend about $3 more and Columbia Crest Grand Estates is noticeably better.
Who it’s for
For cookouts, cooking and nights when you just want a dark red in the glass. Not the bottle to impress anyone.
How to serve it
Serve slightly cool, about 15 minutes in the fridge.
The backstory
Dark Horse is one of Gallo's budget brands, made in Modesto in California's Central Valley. Winemaker Beth Liston has been the face of it for years, and the pitch is simple: bold flavor for under ten bucks. They leave the juice on the grape skins longer than usual (extended maceration) and use plenty of toasty oak, which is where that dark, smoky, chocolatey thing comes from.
How it compares
- Dark Horse Cabernet vs Barefoot Cabernet
Barefoot is softer, lighter and a touch sweeter-tasting; Dark Horse is darker and smokier, so pick it if you want something that feels more like a "real" Cab.
- Dark Horse Cabernet vs 14 Hands Cabernet
14 Hands costs a couple of dollars more and is smoother and fresher; Dark Horse is the better pick only if price is everything.
- Dark Horse Cabernet vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
For about $3 more, Columbia Crest is a clear step up in balance and finish, and it is the upgrade to make if you like Dark Horse.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Who makes Dark Horse wine?
- E. & J. Gallo, the giant family-owned winery based in Modesto, California. It's one of their value brands, sitting next to names like Barefoot and Apothic.
- Where is Dark Horse wine made?
- In California. The label just says "California," which means the grapes can come from anywhere in the state, mostly the big, warm Central Valley.
- Is Dark Horse wine vegan?
- Not reliably. Gallo has said Dark Horse can be fined (clarified before bottling) with things like gelatin, egg or milk proteins, so strict vegans should skip it.
- How much alcohol is in Dark Horse Cabernet?
- About 13.5%, which is pretty normal for a California red. That's a little over a standard drink in a 5 oz glass.
- Is Dark Horse Cabernet sweet?
- No, it's dry. The oak gives it vanilla and mocha flavors that can feel rich, but it isn't a sweet wine.
If you like this, try
- Barefoot CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $7It's fine
- 14 Hands CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $11Good buy
- Mondavi Private Selection CabCabernet Sauvignon · about $12It's fine
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Dark Horse; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Dark Horse (E. & J. Gallo).