Chenin Blanc Wine

If you’re looking for a complex white wine with great character, look no further than Chenin Blanc.

With high acidity and flinty notes, Chenin Blanc (pronounced cheh-nuhn-blaangk) is adaptable to a range of wine styles, whether still, sparkling, or as a dessert wine, as well as dry, off-dry, and sweet white wines.

Chenin Blanc is a high-yielding grape variety with large, round berries. It’s also a late-ripening grape, which means it’s often one of the last grapes to be harvested each year. The grape’s high acidity makes it a good candidate for aging, and many Chenin Blanc wines can be cellared for years.

Our selection of Chenin Blanc wines has something to offer everyone. Shop our range and discover the perfect wine for your next occasion.

Chenin Blanc is grown worldwide but is most notably found in France’s Loire Valley, with a history dating back to the ninth century. When first produced, Chenin Blanc was used for sweet white wines, either sparkling or still, to serve as a dessert wine.

Now grown widely in South Africa, Chenin Blanc is one of the country’s most-popular white wines.

The grape can yield high acidity, even in hot climates, and is often used to create brandy or to blend with other white grape varieties. Chenin Blanc also grows in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and California.

The golden shimmering hues of Chenin Blanc are highly inviting, and its low tannins make for an inviting, refreshing palate.

Most Chenin Blancs exhibit a medium body with high acidity, producing the fluidity and freshness needed to make very dry still wines or sparkling wines.

However, if the harvest is late, the sugar levels in the grapes tend to be higher, making them more suited for producing sweet or dessert wines—all equally delicious.

Chenin Blanc can also age in oak barrels, which is another reason it’s highly valued by winegrowers worldwide.

Chenin Blanc has vibrant and elegant aromas of peach, apple, and floral notes. Flavors of melon and pineapple intertwine with mineral acidity, offering a crisp, refreshing finish. Certain styles of Chenin Blanc, produced in rockier climates, contain smoky notes that accentuate its citrus flavors.

Chenin Blanc has a diverse range of complex flavors, including:

• Tart pear
• Quince
• Ginger
• Chamomile
• Jasmine
• Passion fruit
• Saffron

Some of the sweeter styles of Chenin Blanc contain notes of:

• Dried persimmon
• Mango
• Orange

Chenin Blanc produced in oak barrels tends to include additional flavors of:

• Popcorn
• Butterscotch
• Nutmeg
• Lemon curd
• Baked apple
• Meringue
• Marzipan

If you’re looking for a Chenin Blanc with a cocktail of fruity flavors and succulent notes, opt for a South African variety.

For a slightly more mature taste with higher acidity, choose an Australian-grown Chenin Blanc, which characteristically comes with additional lime and peach notes.

French wines are a good choice if you prefer a more crisp and minerally style or a lively and sparkling wine.

As a general rule, if you prefer dry wine, look for a Chenin Blanc that has high acidity and low sugar levels. For an off-dry wine, look for wine with moderate acidity and moderate sugar levels. And for a sweet wine, shoot for one with low acidity and high sugar levels.

Due to its fruit-forward flavors and high acidity, Chenin Blanc pairs well with foods that have a sweet-and-sour style.

Dishes from South-East Asia, such as sweet-and-sour pork, Thai green curry, Pad Thai, and duck spring rolls, are excellent matches. The wine also pairs well with vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots, as well as various tropical fruits like guava and passion fruit.

When it comes to cheese, Chenin Blanc partners well with mild and creamy cheeses, so aim for soft styles such as Brie and goat’s cheese.

Lighter wines like Chenin Blanc are best served chilled (between 44-50 ̊ F) in a standard white wine glass.

It’s a good idea to allow the wine to sit for half an hour before drinking, giving it enough time to reach its full potential and release its bountiful aromas and flavors.