Chenin Blanc - a Must-try White Grape Variety
Chenin Blanc is one of the most exciting white grape varieties in the world. Whether you prefer a bone-dry or lusciously sweet white wine or even a bubbly, you can have it all. Chenin Blanc's high acidity and adaptability to various climates and winemaking techniques make it a favorite among sommeliers and wine enthusiasts all over the globe.
Key Regions for Chenin Blanc
Let us start with a small journey into the most famous regions where you can find Chenin Blanc. While France and South Africa are the most well-known for Chenin Blanc, the US and Australia are now creating ever more exciting styles!
France: The Loire Valley, Home to Chenin Blanc
Kicking off our Chenin Blanc discovery with the Loire Valley, since this is considered the ancestral home of Chenin Blanc. French Chenin Blanc is often named after its place of origin, where the village or region the grapes came from, called an appellation. If a label says Vouvray, Savennières or Quarts de Chaume, it means the wine is made from Chenin Blanc, even if the varietal name is not written on the label.
Here are some quick tips to discover which of the popular French wine regions are best for you.
Vouvray
An incredible place that is offering a huge range of wine styles from this grape, starting from a dry (Sec) to sweet (Moelleux) and traditional method sparkling wines. The majority of Vouvray Chenin Blanc are dry, they offer a bunch of delicate floral aromas, notes of quince and honey, and an amazing aging potential.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
Across the river from Vouvray, is an up-and-coming appellation called Montlouis sur Loire! While it carries the same rich history as Vouvray, it's less known to the world. You can often find Chenin Blanc wines with excellent value here. This doesn't mean there aren't exciting unicorn wines made here as well!
Savennières
Savennières is loved for the mineral and complex touch to the wines that most often come along with fuller bodies and a bone-dry character. While they can be austere in youth, they develop beautifully over time, so make sure to grab an older bottle when you spot it! Savennières is a much smaller appellation in size compared to Vouvray, making their wines ever so precious!
Coteaux du Layon & Quarts de Chaume
The specific climate of these regions allows the controlled development of botrytis on the grapes, dehydrating them, and enabling producers to create excellent sweet wines! What you can expect from these wines are rich flavors of apricot, honey, and nuts, with the defining acidity of Chenin Blanc providing an excellent freshness. You can drink these wines when young or even age them for decades, when you can get your hands on them!
South Africa: The New World Powerhouse
"Steen" is how local people call their Chenin Blanc in South Africa. In this country, it is the most widely planted grape variety. It is planted all over the country, as it was initially used for the production of brandy. In the past few decades, South African wine producers discovered the treasure of old bush vine Chenin Blanc, making it the variety synonymous with the country. From Swartland to Paarl, there is Chenin Blanc in every region of the country!
The huge diversity in climates results in various styles, from lean and crisp dry wines, to rich and oaked. Most Chenin Blanc coming from South Africa is made in a dry style. Each producer tries to place their signature on their style, giving wines with a great diversity from steely and mineral to rich and oaked. Prices vary, there is always a great South African Chenin Blanc that fits your budget!
Stellenbosch
It is home to many of the country's oldest Chenin vines, often bush-trained (unirrigated, old vines), yielding concentrated, mineral-driven wines. Dry Chenin Blancs from here are textured with stone fruit, citrus, and subtle oak aging. While Chenin Blanc has its place in Stellenbosch, it's growing alongside excellent red wines, including another staple - Pinotage, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, which are equally worth exploring.
Swartland
Known for their innovative, low-intervention winemakers and granite and schist soils. What you expect here is a rather leaner style, a Chenin Blanc with high acidity, some saline notes, and a lovely mineral character.
Swartland is a large region, with larger producers alongside boutique wineries. This means you can discover affordable styles, like the Riebeek Chenin Blanc which can be perfect for this summer.
Or you can try something more exciting, like this FairTrade certified Chenin Blanc from Lubanzi.
Olifants River
Olifants River used to be overlooked, but it grows more Chenin Blanc than either Swartland or Stellenbosch, making it a must-try this summer! Wines from here are mostly dry, have a rich, dense palate, and expressive tropical fruit on the nose. The wines from Cederberg and Botanica are some of the top to try from the Olifants River!
Paarl
Paarl produces the most Chenin Blanc after the Breedekloof region! This means there are many more old vines here than in other regions, making the wines coming from Paarl much more exciting. If you're looking for a wine from old vines, this Chenin Blanc from Lievland Vineyards is not to miss!
Thanks to the warmer climate, we get richer, fuller-bodied Chenins with tropical and honeyed notes, yet the high acidity is beautifully striking! Wines are dry with generous fruit and often some oak influence.
United States: California's Revival
It was once widely planted in California, then experienced a decline, but these days Chenin Blanc is experiencing a renaissance, especially among boutique wineries. While historically used in blends or bulk wine, modern U.S. producers are now crafting elegant, varietal-driven Chenin Blanc wines that range from bone-dry to off-dry, offering both freshness and complexity.
Chenin Blanc is best when it experiences the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, that's why the Coastal AVAs often give the most exciting results.
Those AVAs (American Viticultural Area) like Napa Valley create some of the most consistent and expressive wines, full of lively stone fruit, melon, and citrus zest with balanced acid.
The Central Coast delivers excellent wines as well. Paso Robles and Santa Ynez Valley give richer — sometimes oak-aged — versions that may have flavors of pear, honeysuckle, and baking spice.
Australia: Emerging Expressions
Chenin Blanc from Australia is an exciting category that is also getting more and more into the spotlight — winemakers are now becoming interested in the grape's freshness, versatility, and the fact that it has a very good food-friendly character. The new generation of Australian winemakers are embracing this grape, redesigning Australian wine as we speak!
Mostly planted in Western Australia, in areas like Swan Valley and Margaret River yet it can be found all over the country, including McLaren Vale. Australian Chenin Blanc wines are also showcasing their characteristic vibrant notes of green apple, citrus, pear, and tropical fruit, while still balanced by crisp acidity. Although they are still not known as much as their French or South African expressions, Chenin Blanc wines from Australia are gaining recognition for their approachability and quality, offering a unique option for white wine lovers seeking something fresh and distinctive.
A great example of the new wave of Australian winemaking featuring Chenin Blanc is the PetNat from Jauma Blewitt Springs! A wine bursting with fun bubbles and classic Chenin Blanc character.
Chenin Blanc Food Pairing Cheatsheet
Dry Styles
Pair well with seafood, poultry, and salads.
Off-Dry Styles
Complement spicy dishes, such as Thai or Indian cuisine.
Sweet Styles
Excellent with desserts like fruit tarts or blue cheese.
Sparkling Chenin Blanc
Versatile with appetizers, fried foods, and light desserts.
Cheers!
Lotte Gabrovits
