Chenin Blanc: All about the grape variety and its wines

What is a Chenin Blanc?

The grape variety Chenin Blanc originates originally from the Loire Valley in France, from the Anjou region. Chenin Blanc wines are still made there today. Because of their success, the French Huguenots brought the Chenin Blanc grape to South Africa. It is now South Africa alongside other growing areas such as California the biggest Chenin Blanc producer. The grape variety Chenin Blanc buds early, ripens mid-early and grows on a Variety of soil types such as slate, sand and clay.

Characteristics of Chenin Blanc

through the Diversity in style and complexity the Chenin Blanc grape variety will this one variety of tastes just. Chenin Blanc lovers can choose between a dry or semi-dry wine, a dessert wine or a sparkling wine (Méthode Cap Classique - MCC).

Chenin Blanc winesthat in one cooler climate are grown, resemble dated Style from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety. Chenin Blanc wines, in the warmer climates are grown, resemble im Style of the Chardonnay grape variety.

What the flavors the grape variety Chenin Blanc concerned, they show one variety of fruits, which vary depending on the time of harvest. Grapes harvested early are fresher and more acidic and exhibit aromas of green apple, pear and even passion fruit on. Grapes harvested later offer ripe Steinobst both in the nose and on the palate.

Flavor Profiles and Aromas of Chenin Blanc

As a white wine, the grape variety has Chenin Blanc to offer a wide range of flavors. Some of these have to do with the way the wine is aged.

• Dry: If the grapes dry fermented and stored fresh, the result is a very lean, mineral chenin blanc with flavors of Pear, quince, ginger and chamomile.
• Semi-dry: If a Part of the natural sugar of the grapes remains in the wine, you can taste ripe aromas of Pear, jasmine, passion fruit and honey.
• Sweet: The sweet variants of Chenin Blanc show flavors of dried plums, roasted almonds, mango and tangerine.
• sparkling wine: sparkling wines can range from dry (Brut) to sweet (Demi-Sec), with classic Chenin Blanc flavors such as Quince, apple and floral notes.

Food pairings with Chenin Blanc

Because of his strong acidity and his fruity taste suitable Chenin Blanc good for Dishes with sweet and sour elements. Southeast Asian dishes like green curries paired with a mineral-rich Chenin Blanc will blow your mind.

meat dishes: Veal, chicken, and turkey are excellent for Chenin Blanc.

fish dishes: Trout, halibut and smoked salmon offer every culinary lover a particularly harmonious taste experience.

Cheese Pairings: Brie, cream cheese and cheddar go very well with Chenin Blanc. An insider tip is goat cheese with a herb crust.

Vegetable Pairings: Vegetables and vegetarian dishes with pumpkin, chives, savoy cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, oyster mushrooms, corn and red pepper harmonize well with Chenin Blanc.

Spices and herbs: Cinnamon, dill, turmeric, ginger, fennel, cloves, marjoram, allspice, red pepper flakes, coriander, fennel.

 Chenin Blanc in South Africa

In South Africa will Chenin Blanc sometimes with Semillon, Viognier and Marsanne mixed, to one full-bodied to get wine. When this blend has matured in wooden casks (Barrique), it resembles a full-bodied Chardonnay from oak casks. In addition, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc verschnitten, to one fresh and sparkling to produce wine.

In South Africa, the degree of maturity of Chenin Blanc be so uneven that the grapes are usually hand selected in successive passes through the vineyard. Highly acidic, less ripe grapes are one excellent base for sparkling wines. Ripe grapes are used for the flavorful, dry styles are used.

At the end of the harvest season, noble rot affects the last harvested grapes, which concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives them rich aromas of orange marmalade, ginger and saffron. The famous sweet wines of South Africa are then made from these sweet grapes. These are valued worldwide and win numerous awards every year.