![]() ![]() The fact that it is a vigorous and fertile grape (although vigour is greatly impacted by soil type) made it a favourite of growers in high production areas such as the Californian and Chilean Central Valleys. Its long history and the quality and diversity of the wines it produces certainly justify it! As such, although perhaps not as highly regarded as those other two historical counterparts, Chenin Blanc can rightly be placed among the wine canon’s must-know classical varieties. With both, it shares the medium to high acid and the adaptability to different growing conditions, expressed through an aromatic spectrum that ranges from stern minerality to ripe orchard fruit. However, although Chenin Blanc has its historical origin in the Loire, where its most classical and diverse expressions hail from, it found a second spiritual home in South Africa, the country where some of the variety’s oldest plants, dry-farmed bush vines, can be found.įurther afield, Chenin Blanc can also be found in California’s Central Valley (although mostly for the production of cheap wines from high-yielding vineyards), Australia, New Zealand and throughout South America.Ĭhenin Blanc shares important characteristics with Chardonnay and Riesling it has the former’s capacity to respond to different winemaking approaches without losing its character, and the latter’s ability to express minute terroir variations and produce wines across a range of styles. The variety’s enduring name has its most likely origin in the monastery of Montchenin, from where it was propagated across the Touraine region, to then return to its birthplace in Anjou under its new name. Other local synonyms were Anjou, Plant d’Anjou, Gros Pineau, Pineau d’Anjou and Pineau de la Loire. The French Renaissance polymath, and Touraine native, François Rabelais (1494 –1553) mentions the variety, both as Chenin and its common Loire synonym Pineau, in his writings. Indigenous to the Loire, rooted in South AfricaĬhenin Blanc is indigenous to the Loire, where it has been grown for centuries, possibly more than a millennium. September releases 2022: full score table.Rhône 2021 score table: top white wines.March releases on the Place de Bordeaux 2023.Chenin Blanc is often blended with Chardonnay and Torrontés to create slightly lighter wines. Chenin Blanc WinesĬhenin Blanc can be used in production of different wine from dry and fruity to sparkling wines such as those from Crémant de Loire d 'Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine - the regions which largely rely on the grape. In short, no matter what soil the vine grows in, it must be accompanied by the right climate for its growth. On the one hand, clay soils are favorable for dessert wines, on the other hand, well-drained soil and a lot of sand will give lighter wines. The climate and the soil greatly affect the style of the wine. It is quite resistant to drought but is very sensitive to cold spring temperatures. This grape variety blooms early and ripens late. Chenin Blanc originated in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley in the late 15th century, and as early as the 16th century it became one of the most important Loire grapes. Interesting story about Chenin BlancĬhenin Blanc is not related to Verdejo and Albillo, but it has been mistaken with these grapes for a long time. These countries make good use of their warm climates to disclose the full potential of this grape to give us the wonderful wines that already became classical in the world of wine. The list of other New World countries which followed the trend of growing Chenin Blanc includes Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Mexico. Although this grape variety is of French origin, Chenin Blanc has risen to fame in South Africa.
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