Chenin Blanc
A white grape originally from France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc dates back to at least the 9th century, where it was first recorded by the Abbey of Glanfeuil as growing on the banks of the Loire River. Chenin Blanc grapes are yellow-green on the vine and hang in conical bunches.
An early budding but late-ripening grape variety, Chenin Blanc produces low to moderate yields. It is a grape that, under the right circumstances, can benefit from the appearance of botrytis cinerea, or Noble Rot, a fungus that shrivels grapes and causes their juices to concentrate and intensify.
Vines can thrive in areas with clay, schist and sandy loam, but the soil type will often dictate what style of wine is ultimately produced. Calcerous clay, as is found in Vouvray, produces round wines with acidity that are anchored and substantial, while limestone-based soils bring forth more acidity than weight. Clay-based soils are best for the richer styles of Chenin Blanc that are typically vinified sweet.
A particularly identifiable grape based on aroma and palate, Chenin Blanc is often known for its notes of honey and straw. Wines are also often described as having a perceptible minerality, as well as a palate that is rich in stone-fruit flavors. Other fruits that are often prominent on the nose and palate include green apple, guava, pear and quince.
When Chenin Blanc is made into a dessert wine, it often develops more tropical and floral notes, including pineapple and white flower. Round and balanced on the palate, Chenin Blanc has the ability to age for a long time in bottle.
France
Some of the most famous Loire Valley wines—which run the gamut in style from sparkling to sweet to off-dry to bone-dry—are produced from this grape, including wines from the appellations of Vouvray, Savennières, Quarts de Chaume, Coteaux du Layon and Crémant de Loire.
South Africa
In addition to France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc is well known in South Africa, where it is also referred to as Steen. There, it can be traced back at least to the mid 1600s. South Africa has the second most Chenin Blanc in the world under vine, second only to France. While the grape was traditionally used as a blending component, today, it is the country’s most prominent white wine variety, capable of producing world-class selections that span the stylistic spectrum, from dry to sweet to sparking and just about everything in between.
Global Production
In Australia, Chenin Blanc is largely grown as a blending variety. The grape is often blended with Chardonnay, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc in wines produced throughout the country. Chenin Blanc in Australia is known for its much more pronounced tropical notes.
Elsewhere in the New World, the grape is still making a name for itself. New Zealand grows a small amount, most of which is produced in a sweet dessert style. In the United States, Chenin Blanc is grown in California—most notably in Napa Valley and Mendocino—Washington and Texas, although producers in New York, Missouri, Wisconsin and Arizona have recently begun experimenting with it as well. Growers in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have long since used the grape in large production white wine blends. Canadian winemakers also grow Chenin Blanc in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, as well as in Ontario.
Synonyms: Anjou, Blanc d’Aunis, Blanc d’Anjou, Capbreton Blanc, Confort, Coue Fort, Cruchinet, Cugnette, Feher Chenin, Franc Blanc, Franche, Gamet Blanc, Gros Chenin, Gros Pineau, Gros Pinot Blanc de la Loire, Gout Fort, Luarskoe, Pineau d’Anjou, Pineau de Briollay, Pineau de la Loire, Pineau de Savennières, Pineau Gros, Pineau Gros de Vouvray, Pineau Nantais, Plant d’Anjou, Plant de Brézé, Plant de Salces, Plant de Salles, Plant du Clair de Lune, Quefort, Rajoulin, Ronchalin, Rouchelein, Rouchelin , Rouchalin, Rougelin, Steen, Stein, Tête de Crabe, Vaalblaar Stein, Verdurant
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Foxen 2020 Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Old Vines Chenin Blanc (Santa Maria Valley)
Central CoastThis tantalizing bottling starts with a steely focus on the nose of ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$26 -
Kiona 2021 Chenin Blanc (Columbia Valley (WA))
Columbia ValleyThe aromas bring appeal, with notes of freshly cut red apple and ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$19 -
Hartford Court 2020 Jurassic Vineyard Old Vine Chenin Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
Central CoastClean, crisp and restrained on the nose, this bottling offers apple-flesh and ...See Full Review$38 -
Pine Ridge 2021 Chenin Blanc-Viognier (California)
California OtherLight floral aromas and bright, ripe tropical-fruit flavors give this wine a ...See Full Review$16 -
Domaine de Brizé 2018 Loire Renaissance Chenin Blanc (Anjou)
Loire ValleyFermented and aged in wood, this is a powerful, ripe wine. Intense ...See Full Review$41 -
Thacher 2020 Own-Rooted Shell Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc (Paso Robles)
Central CoastSherman Thacher and crew are doing wonders to highlight forgotten vineyards such ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$36 -
Domaine Gouron 2019 La Croix Boissée (Chinon)
Loire ValleyThis nutty wine with ripe apples and delicious background acidity comes from ...See Full Review$39 -
Domaine de la Gaverie 2020 Sec (Vouvray)
Loire ValleyBarrel aging has broadened this dry wine, adding spice to the fruit ...Best BuySee Full Review$15 -
Domaine de la Petite Roche 2020 Origine Chenin Blanc (Anjou)
Loire ValleyThis wine conveys both minerality and spice. The ripe fruit shows a ...See Full ReviewN/A -
Domaine de la Guilloterie 2020 Brézé Elegance (Saumur)
Loire ValleyThis fruity wine has great balance between acidity and creamy apple and ...See Full Review$25 -
Cave Robert & Marcel NV De Chanceny Brut Sparkling (Crémant de Loire)
Loire ValleyOffering nutty as well as white-fruit flavors, this wine is crisp and ...See Full Review$18 -
Domaine de la Petite Roche 2020 Chenin Blanc (Anjou)
Loire ValleyRipe creamed apples and an attractive nuttiness show in this crisp and ...See Full ReviewN/A -
Maison Darragon NV Brut (Vouvray)
Loire ValleyWith delicious apple and honey flavors, this is a fruity wine. Tight ...See Full Review$19 -
Maison Darragon 2020 Les Tuffes Sec (Vouvray)
Loire ValleyTight with tense acidity and citrus as well as crisp apple flavors, ...See Full Review$18 -
Maison Darragon 2020 Les Hauts de Ruettes (Vouvray)
Loire ValleyOff dry, this is a soft style of Vouvray. White fruits, some ...See Full Review$18 -
La Dame Bleue 2020 Chenin Blanc (Val de Loire)
Loire ValleyA simple wine with suggestions of honey and almonds, this has a ...See Full Review$18 -
Cave Robert & Marcel NV De Chanceny Brut Excellence (Vouvray)
Loire ValleyA bready wine replete with acidity and tight citrus flavors, this is ...See Full Review$20 -
Brash Higgins 2019 CHN Willamba Hill Vineyard Chenin Blanc (McLaren Vale)
South AustraliaNative yeast, a touch of skin contact and some barrel ferment make ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$36 -
Center of Effort 2019 Dolcezza Late Harvest White (Edna Valley)
Central CoastIt's rare that such depth occurs in white dessert wines from the ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$60 -
Kinero 2020 In Vain White (Central Coast)
Central CoastThis unique blend of 51% Viognier, 36% Chardonnay and 13% Chenin Blanc ...See Full Review$35
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