This white grape variety finds its origin in the French Loire Valley and can differ in style from a dry white, sweet wine, and expressive sparkling. Plantings of the Chenin are mostly found in Touraine and Anjou-Saumur, sub-regions of the Loire Valley. The grape is known throughout the entire valley as Pineau de la Loire, while specifically in Anjou-Saumur the grape will be named Blanc d’Anjou. The moment of picking and the climate will determine the style, as the grape can develop significantly more sugar levels towards the end of the growing season.
In terms of dry white, the Chenin from the Loire will display soft exotic fruit such as white peach and quince, along with rounder aromas of yellow apple and white pear, floral acacia, an undertone of minerality and refreshing acidity. Chenin is very susceptible to botrytis, which is a good type of fungus, and it will dry out the grape, that is still attached to the vine. Due to this drying out the grape will have an increase in sugar levels and much more concentrated flavours. This way high-quality dessert wines are made. Along with above-described aromas we can add more overripe peach, along with honey. The most known sub-regions for this are Vouvray and Montlouis. Semi-dry versions are made as well.
In the area Chenin is very popular for the production of sparkling wines, such as Crémant de Loire and Saumur Mousseux. Both of these wines will have an addition of Chardonnay to the blend. Saumur Mousseux will also have a touch of Cabernet Franc in the blend and Chenin will have a minimum of 60%. The wine is made with only Loire grapes, according to the Méthode Traditionelle and will age for a minimum of 9 months. A rosé is also allowed under the appellation and there the focus will lie on the usage of the Cabernet Franc grapes. The Crémant will also follow the Méthode Traditionelle and will always have more Chardonnay in the blend, on top of the Chenin Blanc. Also, grapes can come from outside of the Loire Valley. Vinification is stricter with aging periods for up to 18 months.
In the region of Limoux, in the Languedoc, Chenin will be used as a supporting grape for the sparkling Crémant de Limoux.
Chenin Blanc has found a second life in South Africa, where it is called Steen. Due to the climate the Chenin will display more fuller exotic and rounder fruit characters such as pineapple, honeydew melon, and lemon marmalade. The minerality will be quite expressive as well. Often the wine will be aged in oak barrels, creating a very full-bodied and rich wine with aromas that almost jump out of the glass after swirling. Also here sweet wine and sparkling is made with Chenin as well.
Aromas
Aromas will vary according to the wine style, in general we do find peach, yellow apple, pineapple and acacia flowers, often with an oily to honey like texture.
Wine type
Fresh fruity white, full-bodied white, sparkling white, dessert wine
Colour
Medium golden
Food matching
Different types of wine will of course lead to different possibilities of food matching. The fresh and full-bodied and even the sparkling whites will match well with some more rich fish like salmon or trout, depending on the fullness of the texture, poultry and even veal can create beautiful food matching. The more full-bodied and semi-dry can work will with spicy Thai or Indian food. While the perfect match for the sweet dessert wines will be white creamy cheeses or Foie Gras.
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