Chenin Blanc: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Chenin Blanc: French ampelographer Pierre Galet suggested that it originated in the Anjou wine region sometime in the 9th c, and from there traveled to Touraine by at least the 15th c. It may have been described in two land grants of Charles the Bald in 845 held at the abbey of Glanfeuil as growing on the left bank of the Loire River. French writer François Rabelais (1494–1553) wrote glowingly about the white wines of Anjou, and mentions medicinal qualities of the grapes. Jan van Riebeeck in the Cape Colony as part of the Dutch East India Company brought the grape to South Africa c.1655.  Image source: decanter.com Its high acidity is used to make varieties from sparkling wines to dessert wines. It is the most widely planted variety in South Africa, where it was historically known as Steen. Steen was being grown at Highercombe in Houghton, South Australia, by 1862. |
Taste/smell: The white wines of the Anjou AOC are a good example of it as a dry wine, said to have flavours of apples and quince. Nearby Vouvray AOC, aims for an off-dry style of wine, having honey and floral characteristics. with age.  Image source: younggunofwine.com Varieties/Mutations In 1999, DNA analysis showed that it had a parent-offspring relationship with the grape Savagnin. Additional DNA evidence shows that it shares a sibling relationship with Trousseau and Sauvignon blanc (offspring of Savagnin), which suggests that it is the offspring and Savagnin the parent. A crossing of it with the Hunnic grape Gouais blanc produced several varieties including Balzac blanc, Colombard and Meslier-Saint-François. In South Africa, it was crossed with the Italian wine grape Trebbiano to produce Weldra and Chenel. There are a number of registered clones.  Image source: fps.ucdavis.edu | Description: It buds early in the growing season and ripens midway to late in the harvest year. New clonal varieties have been developed that delay budding and increase sugar development during the ripening phase. Clusters are medium to large, long and conical, with medium oval berries that are yellow-green.  Image source: fps.ucdavis.edu Its shoot tips are felty white. The dense hair on young leaves makes them appear cream-white. Adult leaves are medium-size with 3 to 5 lobes.  Image source: plantgrape.fr |
| Chenin Blanc producing countries: Chenin blanc is planted across the globe from China to New Zealand, Canada, and Argentina, it is considered a major planting in just a few locations. Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: not detected France: Loire Italy: not detected USA: California, Long Island NY, Oregon Chile: Aconcagua Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: La Rioja, Mendoza, Patagonia, Salta, San Juan Australia: Margaret River, New South Wales, Swan Valley, Tasmania, Victoria China: Shandong Germany: not detected India: Maharashtra New Zealand: Hawkes Bay Portugal: not detected Romania: not detected South Africa: Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Swartland Turkey: Aegean, Thrace Others countries: None detected. | Grape is also known as: Agudelo (in Spain), Agudillo (Spain), Anjou, Blanc d’Aunis, Blanc d’Anjou, Capbreton blanc (Landes, France), Confort, Coue Fort, Cruchinet, Cugnette, Feher Chenin, Franc blanc (Aveyron, France), Franche, Gamet blanc (Aveyron, France), Gout Fort, Gros Chenin (in Maine-et-Loire and Indre-et-Loire), Gros Pineau (in Touraine), Gros Pinot Blanc de la Loire, Luarskoe, Pineau, Pineau d’Anjou (in Mayenne), Pineau de Briollay, Pineau de la Loire (in Indre-et-Loire), Pineau de Savennières, Pineau gris, Pineau Gros de Vouvray, Pineau Nantais, Plant d’Anjou (in Indre-et-Loire), Plant de Brézé, Plant de Salces, Plant de Salles, Plant du Clair de Lune, Quefort, Rajoulin, Ronchalin, Rouchelein, Rouchelin (in Gironde and Périgord), Rouchalin, Rougelin, Steen (South Africa), Stein, Tête de Crabe, Vaalblaar Stein and Verdurant. |
Image source: thewinedream.wine/south-africa-chenin-blanc
Chenin Blanc: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
