Versatile, expressive and wonderfully complex, Chenin Blanc is one of the most adaptable white grape varieties. Whilst it thrives in the Loire Valley, it's also well-established in South Africa, where it has become the country's flagship white grape. A high-acid variety that thrives in a range of climates, Chenin Blanc is unique in its ability to produce every style of wine imaginable, from dry and crisp to lusciously sweet, as well as moreish sparkling.
TYPICAL FLAVOURS
Green Apple • Peach • Honey • Ginger
FOOD PAIRING
Goat's Cheese • Roast Pork with Apple Sauce • Apple Tart • Massaman Chicken Curry
A MATURE GEM
While most white wines are best enjoyed young, top-tier sweet and dry Chenin Blancs can easily cellar and mature for many years. There's a classic rule of thumb when matching food and wine: pair sweet with sweet. It's exactly what makes a luscious, sweet Chenin such a superb partner for desserts and sweet treats.
CHENIN BLANC AROUND THE WORLD
In its homeland of the Loire Valley (Vouvray, Savennières and Saumur), Chenin Blanc produces elegant wines across dry, sparkling and sweet styles. In cooler years or specific terroirs, it leans toward sharp acidity, minerality and crisp, citrus notes. It is susceptible to Noble Rot, but that's no bad thing! Noble Rot transforms the grapes into some of the world's finest, most complex sweet dessert wines.
South Africa has truly embraced Chenin Blanc, where its high acidity thrives in the warmer climate. This New World style of Chenin often features rich, concentrated tropical fruit, like pineapple and mango and sometimes hints of vanilla if aged in oak.
Taste the Grape Chenin Blanc Half Dozen
There are many factors that contribute to the flavour of a wine, including the winemaking process, but the single most important is the grape variety. Our Taste the Grape Half Dozen offers the opportunity to sample six different styles from across the world, all made from the same grape variety, providing insight into its unique character and versatility.
£125.70 £110
per half dozen
La Grande Marque Saumur Brut
A lovely pale golden colour, this is a fresh and lively Saumur with elegant fruit and a good hint of maturity from a minimum of 16 months ageing on lees. It’s light, well-balanced and very drinkable.
Pair with: Smoked Salmon
£15.50
per bottle
Doran Vineyards Chenin Blanc Reserve, Voor Paardeberg
Clean, crisp and fresh but with more body and character than is usually associated with this grape. Plenty of ripe apple and citrus fruit with a note of honey and a lovely richness, as well as a delicate floral character.
Pair with: Goat's cheese & thyme stuffed chicken
£19.50
per bottle
Vouvray, Clos le Vigneau, Château Gaudrelle
Full-bodied, just off-dry Chenin Blanc produced biodynamically with minimal use of sulphur. Eric Pasquier and his son Emile have taken this wine up a notch since taking over in 2020.
Pair with: Roast pork with apple sauce
£23.50
per bottle
