Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is a tremendous, versatile, and vastly underappreciated grape native to France. Despite being French, over half of the world’s Chenin Blanc is grown in South Africa. Chenin Blanc is used as a workhorse grape in South Africa, primarily making inexpensive, fairly neutral white wines for mass consumption.

It can be said without much debate that Chenin Blanc achieves its greatest heights at home in France’s Loire Valley.

In the Loire, Chenin Blanc is vital in several appellations, most notably Saumur, Savennières, Vouvray, and the underrated Crémant de Loire. Crémant de Loire is a superb sparkling wine produced using the traditional method and primarily made from Chenin Blanc.

Chenin Blanc is extraordinarily versatile in the Loire, where it can be made dry, off-dry, sweet dessert-style, or sparkling. These wines are frequently sold at bargain prices, while a small handful of top estates in Vouvray can fetch prices north of $100 per bottle.

When made with care, Chenin Blanc offers great floral and fruit qualities, with tremendous natural acidity that shows well in still, sweet, and sparkling wines. The best examples of Chenin Blanc, particularly from the Loire, can age gracefully for decades, taking on a rich golden-honey appearance.

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