Chenin blanc is what kind of wine

Partially fermented in oak, this wine is rich and smoothly textured, with This crisp and textured wine offers baked-apple and pear flavors that are Best Buy See Full Review.

This rich, wood-aged wine offers concentrated white fruits, citrus acidity, toastiness and This technically light-bodied wine is creamy in texture, hefty in mouthfeel and This honeyed wine offers a full-bodied mousse and baked-apple flavors.

It has With maturity, this wine's generous fruit has transformed into ripe baked apples, Grapevine trunk diseases are a growing concern for French winemakers with the latest government figures showing more than , hectares of vineyard lost in Fiona Beckett meets him to find out.

One of California's oldest Chenin Blanc vineyards has been listed by the state's Historic Vineyard Society, as part of efforts to preserve the region's winemaking heritage.

The versatile Chenin Blanc's pretensions to classic grape status are mainly realised in the Loire Valley, where its floral aroma, apple and pear-like flavour and acidity contribute to long-lived dry styles and luscious sweet whites around Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume, Vouvray and Layon, and, on occasions, full-flavoured sparkling wines.

Considered more of a workhorse variety in the New World, it is South Africa's most widely planted grape variety known as Steen , widely planted in California, Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, and occasionally produces quality dry whites when barrel-fermented. The traditional method is also used to make sparkling Chenin in South Africa, where the winemaking method is referred to as cap classique. He brought a Chenin vine from France in and planted it at his home vineyard.

Initially, producers primarily used Chenin Blanc to make brandy , but that changed in the late twentieth century when South Africa started coming into its own as a well respected wine region. Winemakers began experimenting with the grape and were able to create a dry, zesty, crisp wine that is very similar to Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.

It was a hit and South African quickly became the largest producer of Chenin Blanc across the globe. The inherent acidity in Chenin Blanc makes it an all-around great choice to pair with food. Meanwhile, a few to try:. This South African riff is a total bargain, with zero frills but enough to keep you coming back for more. The winery touts its ability to play alongside complex food dishes like macaroni and cheese.

Kiona has been making Chenin since and knows the grape well. Whatever the vintage, expect a crisp wine made all the more so thanks to production in stainless steel. Her version is made from Ribbon Ridge fruit in the Willamette Valley and affords a great mouthfeel thanks to neutral oak fermentation. This California producer is behind an intoxicating New World Chenin.