Grape Varietal Report

Grape Varietal Report – Chenin Blanc

By: Lauren Yokley

            Chenin Blanc grapes date all the way back to the 9^th century in the Anjou wine region (France), where they are believed to have originated.  By the 15^th century the grapes had spread to Touraine, France and then migrated throughout the Loire Valley where it is very popular now.  Chenin Blanc is primarily grown in France, South Africa, and the United States.  This grape variety is one of the most versatile wine grape varieties – it can produce dry table wines, sparkling wines, sweet dessert wines, and even brandy.  

Chenin Blanc is known for its high acidity – which can greatly increase its longevity.  The high acidity allows it to be grown in locations that would be too warm for several other grape varieties.  However, because the grapevine buds early in the growing season and ripens late, it can be difficult for growers in cooler climates because it may not have enough time to fully ripen on the vine.  But it does have a good resistance to diseases and is tolerable of many soil types.

The climate of the region will largely determine if the wine is produced in a sweet or dry manner and the soil type will typically influence the overall style of the wine.  General Chenin Blanc descriptors include: apple, floral, grassy, herbal, tropical fruit, almond, honey, pear, honeydew, and cantaloupe.  Old-World style flavors and aromas are honey, flowers, almonds, peach, and straw.  Whereas New-World style Chenin Blanc wines are more fruit-focused and have more tropical fruit, guava, apple, and grass components.  Aging in oak barrels isn’t very typical, but if the process is used, it will bring in more vanilla and sweet wood flavors.

Chenin Blanc can be versatile in food and wine pairings, but knowing the style of the wine will determine what type of food will merry best with the wine.  Light, dry wines go very well with salad, chicken, and fish (and other seafood), whereas sweeter styles can be paired with spicy Asian dishes as they can balance the heat.

Loire Valley, France

The Loire Valley is where the Chenin Blanc grape variety and it is the location most closely associated with the variety.  In the 1970’s, much of the Chenin Blanc plantings were uprooted because of the more favorable Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and the easier-to-grow Gamay.  Because of this the variety was consolidated to the middle Loire.  Vouvray is a small region within the Valley that produces 100% Chenin Blanc (and will most likely be labeled as Vouvray on wine bottles rather than Chenin Blanc).  The Vouvray region boasts about 2,000 hectares of Chenin Blanc grapes.

In the Loire Valley, French regulations mandate that the yields to be kept low – this allows for the characteristic Chenin Blanc flavors to be more prominent rather than in high yield vineyards where the flavors become more bland and diluted.  For Chenin Blanc production, the Loire Valley has the lowest yields compared to the other famous regions of South Africa and California.  Due to its cool climate, this region produces dry Chenin Blanc usually with a fairly high acidity.  Even though this region has less plantings and produces smaller yields, it arguably has the best and most respected Chenin Blanc wines in the world.

South Africa

Although not was well-known and glamorous as the Loire Valley, South African wines are increasing in popularity.  Chenin Blanc from South Africa are also called and locally known as “Steen” and is the most widely cultivated vine, accounting for 20% of all plantings.   The country has almost 19,000 hectares of Chenin Blanc!  The majority of Chenin Blanc grapes are planted in the Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Worcester regions.

Since the climate is very warm, Chenin Blanc grapes do very well and the acidity is balanced with tropical fruit emphasis (very different from the flavor profile of the French Chenin Blanc).  

California

California is another well-known producer of Chenin Blanc – it is the 3^rd most widely planted white wine grape in the state at 5,300 hectares (mostly in the Central Valley).  Chenin Blanc has been used as a blending grape in California and tends to be overshadowed by the “big” wines, such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Also a New-World wine, the flavor profile is similar to that of the South African Chenin.

(*Note: no official worldwide Chenin Blanc plantings in hectares could be found)

Sources:

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/jrs03411

http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/chenin.htm

http://grapeencounters.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/learning-the-whites-chenin-blanc/

http://www.wine-sa.com/chenin-blanc/