For many years, the origin of Cabernet Sauvignon was not clearly understood and many myths and conjectures surrounded it. The word "Sauvignon" is believed to be derived from the French "sauvage" meaning "wild" and to refer to the grape being a wild "Vitis vinifera" vine native to France. Until recently the grape was rumored to have ancient origins, perhaps even being the "Biturica" grape used to make ancient Roman wine and referenced by Pliny the Elder. This belief was widely held in the 18th century, when the grape was also known as "Petite Vidure" or "Bidure", apparently a corruption of "Biturica". There was also belief that "Vidure" was a reference to the hard wood (French "vigne dure") of the vine, with a possible relationship to Carménère which was once known as "Grand Vidure". Another theory was that the grapevine originated in the Rioja region of Spain.