Chenin Blanc - versatile and diverse

Chenin Blanc is also known as Steen in South Africa and, despite a declining trend, is still the strongest white grape variety in the Cape. Winemakers are endeavouring to raise the quality standard of Chenin Blanc wines and develop them in different styles. When the yield is limited, Chenin Blanc is an excellent white wine variety that produces wines with a very fine balance of acidity and fruit. The variety is also often used to make sweet wines or sparkling wines. As one of the oldest grape varieties in the world, it is also widely cultivated in France and South America.

More about Chenin Blanc

Profiles

Chenin Blanc is a wine of brittle beauty. It does not have a catchy fruity flavour, but scores with depth and texture. The grape variety is characterised by a tart fruitiness and oily notes. Chenin Blanc produces a rough, grainy and dry sensation in the mouth and only reveals its true potential in the aftertaste. Chenin Blanc wines are extravagant wines with a mineral flavour and pronounced acidity.

Fruit ★★★★

Body ★

Tannin ★★★★

Acidity ★★★★★

Alcohol ★★★★

Flavours

In warm growing regions such as South Africa, Chenin Blanc wines have notes of nectarine, pineapple, honey and meringue. Chenin Blanc from cooler regions such as France has dominant notes of pear and lemon. In Anjou in France, where the fog occasionally gathers close to the river, Chenin Blanc has hints of candied ginger due to noble rot. If a Chenin Blanc tastes of bruised apple, this is a sign of oxidation, which is also deliberately produced.

Dominant notes:

- Lemon
- Yellow apple
- pear
- honey
- Camomile

Possible notes:

- Herbs/flowers: honeysuckle, chamomile, citrus blossom, jasmine, acacia
- Citrus: lime, lemon, lemon peel, pomelo
- Tree fruit/melon: green fig, honeydew melon, yellow apple, pear, white peach
- Tropical fruit: Pineapple, passion fruit
- Dried fruit: Raisin
- Earth/Other: chalk, ginger, allspice, marzipan, honey
- Secondary notes: Lemon curd, salted butter, oily, cream, baker's yeast
- Tertiary: Hazelnut

Harmonises with

As varied as the styles of Chenin Blanc are, so too are the possibilities for combining it with dishes. Mature or wood-aged Chenin Blanc harmonises well with rich pork and veal dishes, as well as crispy roast poultry such as goose or duck. It also goes well with fish dishes, curries, salads and light pasta dishes. A more mature Chenin Blanc is recommended with goat's or sheep's cheese as well as mature Brie, blue cheese and Camembert. Chenin Blanc also cuts a fine figure as an aperitif.

General information

Chenin Blanc is a widespread, old white wine variety that has been cultivated in France since the 9th century. According to historical sources, the Chenin Blanc grape variety already existed in the region around the French town of Anjou around 850 AD. As "Plant d'Anjou" (plant from Anjou), it came to Touraine in the 15th century, where it was planted in vineyards near the Mont-Chenin monastery. The monastery was probably also the inspiration for the name of the grape variety, which also has around 80 synonyms due to its great age.

Chenin Blanc vines can be found in many parts of the world today, including South Africa, the USA and Argentina. Worldwide, almost 35,200 hectares of vineyards are planted with Chenin Blanc. Outside of France, Chenin Blanc is mainly grown in South Africa, where it is the most widely cultivated grape variety and is also known as "Steen".

No other grape variety has the reputation of being more complex than Chenin Blanc. It is known as the princess of the Loire. Chenin Blanc belongs to the French noble grape varieties, the Cépages nobles. The grape variety also has noble parents. It probably originated from a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer.

There are few white wine varieties that react as strongly to soil and climate conditions as Chenin Blanc. The vintages of dry wines in particular differ enormously in terms of their aroma spectrum and flavour, which is heavily dependent on the ripeness of the grapes. The Chenin Blanc grape variety is very productive and if the yield is limited, the quality of the white wine produced from it is excellent.

Chenin Blanc stands for expressive white wines and pure variety: they are vinified dry, semi-dry and, due to their susceptibility to noble mould, often also noble sweet. Sparkling wines and liqueurs are also based on Chenin Blanc. White wines made from Chenin Blanc grapes spoil the nose, tongue and palate with their very own character. Vines that grow on slate soils produce powerful dry wines with smoky, spicy flavours. Chenin Blanc wines, whose grapes thrive on heavy soils, are more mellow and creamy. The high-grade sweet wines shine with high acidity and a special texture.

Alongside the red Pinotage, Chenin Blanc wines are regarded as unmistakable ambassadors for wines from the Cape, especially from the climatically favoured regions around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Worcester, where excellent Chenin Blanc wines are produced. Chenin Blanc is generally vinified dry there and has notes of lime and tarragon. If the Chenin Blanc from the Cape is blended, then according to the Method Cap Classique. South Africa's warm climate produces exciting, exotic flavours of guava and melon. Chenin Blanc is often matured there in new barrique barrels. However, a large proportion of the Chenin grapes grown in South Africa are used to produce brandy.