My latest wine obsession: Chenin blanc, an amazing value
France has over 200 different varieties of wine grapes, and most of them we’ve never heard of. Chenin blanc is an amazing white wine grape that is most famous in France. But today it makes equally amazing wines in places like South Africa and yes – Mexico. Let’s check it out. Chenin blanc is indigenous to a region in the central part of France known as the Loire Valley. Here, along the banks of the Loire river,
there are about 24,000 acres of Chenin. As you may know, in France, they
name their wines after the region where the wine is made. Probably the
most famous place for Chenin blanc is Vouvray, named after a small town
on the northern banks of the Loire.
By law, the only grape allowed to be used in Vouvray wine is Chenin blanc, so in a way, the two things are interchangeable. But in other parts of the world, it’s known as just Chenin blanc. Chenin found its way to South Africa
in the year 1652 thanks to Dutch and French colonizers who brought the grape with them. The grape has done so well that today it’s the #1 white grape in all of South Africa with almost twice as much acreage as France. So what does Chenin taste like? Chenin blanc, and more specifically, French Vouvray, can be made in many different styles, from crisp and dry to semi-sweet to
sparkling and even a lush dessert wine. (Check the bottle for the sweetness level) But no matter what, it’s
almost always bracingly acidic. Never tart, but refreshingly zingy with
the tingle of citrus peel and even ginger.
All good Chenin blanc tends to have three consistent qualities: Pungent honey, the essence of fresh cut grass or straw, and an herbal note of chamomile or white flowers. When its made in cooler regions like the Loire Valley, the wine tends to be more lean and acidic, with green fruit flavors like pear
and apple. In warmer regions like South Africa you find juicer fruits like peach, apricot and passion fruit. For a refreshing wine like this, food
pairing is a dream. I personally find that gingery zing is perfect for Asian dishes, but the fruitiness can also compliment roast poultry with makes it great for the holidays. It’s amazing with creamy cheeses and dishes that go heavy on the dairy because that
acidity really balances the richness.
Chenin blanc is now being made in other parts of the world, namely California, Australia, and yes, even Mexico. Did
you know Mexico has a wine country too? Lastly, what will a bottle of
Vouvray or Chenin blanc cost you? French Vouvray comes in at a range of prices. You’ll pay about $20 for an everyday bottle, but for the top producers, expect
prices as high as $50 -100 a bottle.
Because South Africa is less known, but has been making Chenin blanc for 370 years now, you get some of the greatest values here. And this one from Mexico was
the most affordable at just $10..
