Chenin Blanc
pronounced : shen-in blonk
Chenin Blanc is a white grape variety originating from France’s Loire Valley, known for its high natural acidity and extraordinary versatility. It can produce a remarkable range of wines — from crisp, dry, and mineral-driven examples to rich, honeyed dessert wines, and even sparkling wines.
Chenin Blanc’s hallmark is its vibrant acidity, which provides balance and longevity across all styles. It thrives in diverse climates and soils, expressing terroir vividly and allowing winemakers to craft wines of both precision and complexity.
Today, it remains the flagship white grape of South Africa, where it produces some of the New World’s most exciting white wines, as well as the benchmark variety of the Loire Valley in France.
Loire subregions and styles:
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Vouvray: Dry to sweet; floral, honeyed, and long-lived.
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Savennieres: Always dry; powerful, mineral, and age-worthy.
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Coteaux du Layon / Quarts de Chaume: Lusciously sweet botrytized wines.
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Crémant de Loire: Sparkling Chenin Blanc, crisp and citrusy.
Origin and History
Chenin Blanc originated in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley, where it has been documented since the 9th century. It was likely named after Mont Chenin, a hill near Tours.
The grape was exported to South Africa in the 17th century by Dutch settlers and became known locally as “Steen.” It remains the most widely planted grape in South Africa, where it is made in both traditional and modern styles.
Over the centuries, Chenin Blanc has developed a reputation as one of the most terroir-reflective and stylistically flexible white grapes in the world — a “chameleon” of viticulture.
Dry and Crisp Styles (Savennieres, Dry South African Chenin)
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Seafood and Shellfish
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Examples: Grilled fish, scallops, oysters, sushi
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Why it works: High acidity balances brine and freshness.
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Roasted Poultry and Pork
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Examples: Roast chicken, pork tenderloin, turkey with herbs
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Why it works: Fruit and acidity cut through fat while enhancing savory flavors.
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Vegetable and Herbal Dishes
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Examples: Asparagus, zucchini, herbed risotto, goat cheese salad
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Why it works: Fresh, green flavors match Chenin’s orchard fruit and minerality.
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