Chenin Blanc
/SHEN-in blahnk/Chenin Blanc is the great white grape of the Loire Valley and South Africa, capable of an extraordinary range of styles from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. In Vouvray and Savennières it shows intense minerality and age-worthiness, while in South Africa's Swartland old vines produce some of the world's most characterful white wines.
Grape profile
Character & style
| Trait | Character |
|---|---|
| Body | medium |
| Acidity | high |
| Tannins | none |
| Sweetness | off-dry |
| Alcohol tendency | medium |
| Origin | Loire Valley, France |
| Common flavours | quince, apple, honey, pear, mineral, sweet spice |
| Aromas | quince, apple, honey, white flowers, wet stone, herb |
Pairing
Best food pairings
- Oysters
- seafood
- Thai food
- roast chicken
- mature cheese
Where it thrives
Key regions for Chenin Blanc
South Africa, France, United States, Australia, New Zealand
Loire Valley
The Loire produces some of the world's most refreshing wines: the gooseberry snap of Sancerre, honeyed Chenin …
Swartland
Swartland's rolling wheat fields hide some of the world's oldest Chenin Blanc, the driving force behind a cele…
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is South Africa's most important wine district and the intellectual heart of the Cape, famous for…