A WHITE GRAPE · VOUVRAY
Chenin Blanc
Honey & quince, racy acid.
What Chenin Blanc tastes like
Chenin Blanc is a white grape. In the glass it reads as honey & quince and racy acid. Chenin Blanc is medium-bodied, with almost no tannin and high, racy acidity, with a touch of ripe sweetness. It is usually made with little or no oak. Its home turf, as we hold it, is Vouvray, Savennières, Swartland.
Where Chenin Blanc grows
Our appellations table names Chenin Blanc in 26 wine regions. The ones with the most wines in our database are Saumur (France), Savennières (France), Vouvray (France), Anjou (France), Loire Valley (France), Chinon (France), Stellenbosch (South Africa), Swartland (South Africa), Touraine (France), Montlouis-sur-Loire (France), Jasnières (France) and Anjou-Saumur (France).
Chenin Blanc is grown well beyond that list: 14 more appellations name it as a main grape, which is part of why one bottle can taste so different from the next.
How the place changes the glass
- Saumur (France): Versatile appellation producing crisp, off-dry whites; elegant, herbaceous reds; and quality sparkling wines. Climate: temperate oceanic with continental influence.
- Savennières (France): Dry, mineral white with high acidity, stone fruit, and honey; capable of 50+ year aging. Climate: cool Continental with Atlantic influence.
- Vouvray (France): Dry to sweet still and sparkling whites with distinctive honeyed minerality and acidity-driven aging potential. Climate: temperate continental with moderate atlantic influence.
- Anjou (France): Red wines emphasize herbaceous, mineral-driven Cabernet Franc with food-friendly freshness; whites are crisp Chenins. Climate: temperate oceanic with continental influence.
What to eat with Chenin Blanc
The classic partners are roast pork, thai curry and comté. Its acidity cuts through richness and cleans the palate between bites, so it pairs well with oily fish, creamy sauces and salty food.
Chenin Blanc in our cellar
The appellations above account for about 3,721 Chenin Blanc wines in the Sommurai database, which is how we know which regions pour it most.
Grapes to try next
If you like Chenin Blanc, these white grapes are worth a glass: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Albarino and Gewurztraminer.
Quick answers
What does Chenin Blanc taste like?
Chenin Blanc reads as honey & quince and racy acid. Chenin Blanc is medium-bodied, with almost no tannin and high, racy acidity, with a touch of ripe sweetness. It is usually made with little or no oak.
What food goes with Chenin Blanc?
roast pork, thai curry and comté.
Where is Chenin Blanc grown?
Our appellations table names Chenin Blanc in 26 wine regions, including Saumur (France), Savennières (France), Vouvray (France), Anjou (France) and Loire Valley (France).
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