Chenin Blanc wine guide

What kind of wine is Chenin Blanc?

Chenin Blanc is a golden-green grape that makes vibrant white wines worldwide. But beyond that, the answer to that question is “it depends.” Chenin Blanc is the shapeshifter of the white wine world, with a stunning range. When studying for a wine exam, a sommelier friend poured me three French Chenin Blanc wines. One was a playful, fruity, and aromatic Vouvray. The next was Savennières so dry and mineral that I expected to see pebbles in the glass. The third was a Quarts de Chaume, a late-harvest dessert wine bursting with tropical fruit and candied citrus. I’ve never forgotten my surprise at tasting how one wine grape — Chenin Blanc — could make such diverse wines. In some regions, Chenin Blanc was traditionally used as a blending grape. But its star qualities are being celebrated in South Africa, France, California, and Australia.

3 facts to know about Chenin Blanc

• South African Chenin Blanc, also known as Steen, was first planted there in 1655.

• Chenin Blanc takes its name from Mount Chenin in the Touraine, in the middle Loire Valley.

• In the 1970s, Chenin Blanc was often labeled as California Chablis. Chablis is actually a Chardonnay from Burgundy, France, leading some people to confuse the two grapes.

Color

Tasting profile

Chenin Blanc grapes have naturally high acidity that lends itself to making exciting wines in various styles. One of the charms of Vouvray is its refreshing quality. In Chenin Blanc dessert wines Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume, the balance between the sugars and natural acidity makes the next sip almost irresistible. The body varies from lean in sparkling wines to more luxurious in Chenin Blanc dessert wines. Like most white wine grapes, Chenin Blanc is low in tannins.

Primary Chenin Blanc flavors

The best Chenin Blanc wines are crisp with vibrant flavors and a suggestion of sweet fruit, including golden apple, Asian pear, melon, lemon, and quince with hints of honeysuckle. Dry Chenin Blanc sparkling wines usually have bright notes of apple and citrus. An off-dry (slightly sweet) Vouvray is reminiscent of white peach, honeysuckle, and honeydew melon. Sweeter Vouvray and botrytized Chenin Blanc dessert wines are lush with lemon curd, peaches, and honey. The Chenin Blanc wines from Savennières can be dry and intense, smelling like stones and lime. An older Savennières can develop subtle notes of peaches, honey, beeswax, and even lambswool.

Key Chenin Blanc winemaking regions

Chenin Blanc grapes are grown in many wine regions. But the best fruit comes from places with relatively cool climates to preserve the acidity in the grapes and a long sunny season since Chenin Blanc ripens slowly. Chenin Blanc grapevines grow vigorously and produce lots of fruit, so top-tier wineries limit fruit production to create wines with distinctive flavors.

France

Wine scientists believe Chenin Blanc was first grown in the Loire’s Anjou region, and you’ll find diverse and extraordinary wines across the entire Loire. Cremant de Loire, a sparkling wine with creamy bubbles, is a significant style. Fruity and playful off-dry Vouvray to intense and mineral Savennières to rich dessert wines Quarts de Chaume and Coteaux du Layon, there’s a Chenin Blanc for every palate.

South Africa

Dutch settlers planted Chenin Blanc here in the 1600s, and South African Chenin Blanc is some of the best in the world. Some of the finest Chenin Blanc wines come from unruly old bush-vine vineyards that dot the Cape, Swartland, and the Stellenbosch. Depending on the winemaking style, South African Chenin Blanc can show a full range of floral, fruit, and aged aromas and flavors. Expect wines with notes of chamomile, honeysuckle, tangerine, golden apple, ginger, honey, and marzipan.

United States

You’ll find the largest concentration of Chenin Blanc vines in Washington State and California, but it’s also found a foothold in Texas.

Washington

Washington State winemakers were some of the first in the United States to appreciate the beauty of Chenin Blanc. But in recent years, old vines are being replaced with more popular and profitable varieties. You can still find wineries in Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain specializing in Chenin Blanc wines with crisp acidity and flavors, including golden apple, pear, pineapple, and mango.

California

In the 1970s, California’s Chenin Blanc plantings rivaled those in the Loire. Unfortunately, much of it was grown for blending into inexpensive and unremarkable wines, which damaged the grape’s reputation. Today, growers in Mendocino County, Napa Valley, and Clarksburg near Sacramento are creating California’s best Chenin Blanc wines.

Australia

Chenin Blanc was first planted in Swann Valley in the early 1800s. In Margaret River and Swann Valley’s warmer regions, Chenin Blancs can be tropical and lush. In cooler areas of Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, Chenin Blanc shows minerality with zippy acidity, lime, and lemon character.

Other regions

Chenin Blanc loves heat, so it thrives in the high plains of Texas and New Zealand’s North Island, which is known for sweet Chenin Blancs inspired by the Loire.

Chenin Blanc food pairings

With its enviable combination of rich flavors and vibrant acidity, Chenin Blanc wines are a dream for food pairing. Try a sparkling Chenin Blanc with fried chicken or sushi. A light and fruity Vouvray is perfect with salads, shellfish, and seafood pasta in a creamy sauce. A dry, vibrant Chenin Blanc from Savennières is ideal with rich meats like roasted chicken, veal, lobster, salmon, or roasted pork with apples. Sweet late harvest Chenin Blancs would be fantastic with an apple or pear tart, a creamy dessert-like creme brûlée, or a cheese board with aged Gouda, blue cheese, almonds, and dried peaches or apricots.

How to store, serve, & enjoy Chenin Blanc

Since Chenin Blanc comes in various styles, look to similar wines for guidance on how to chill it and the best glass to use.

Chill a sparkling Chenin Blanc like Cremant de Loire to 46 to 50 degrees, and serve it in a Champagne flute.

A dry or off-dry Chenin Blanc like Vouvray or Savennières tastes best at 45 to 49 degrees Fahrenheit to show off its acidity. Serve it in the same white wine glass you’d choose for Sauvignon Blanc.

The sweet Quarts de Chaume and Coteaux du Layon taste smooth and silky at 40 to 50 degrees. These late-harvest wines can be served in a small dessert-wine glass or a white wine glass.

If you’re curious about Chenin Blanc and other under-the-radar wine grapes from France, check out our guides on French wines and international dessert wines.