Chenin Blanc
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Chenin Blanc
By Brandon Wright
Oenology & Viticulture
12/14/11
History
Chenin blanc, also known as Pineau de la Loire, Steen, Anjou, Confort, Franc Blanc, Pineau de Savennieres, Pineau Gros, Pineau Gros de Vouvray, Rouchalin, Stein, and many other names is a white wine grape varietal from the Loire Valley of France. It is considered a blank canvas for wine makers in its’ ability to produce everything from sparkling wines, long lived, unctuous, nectar like dessert wines, crisp, dry table wines, and even brandy.
The most famous, vibrant chenin blancs in the world come from the Loire Valley of France, specifically from the appellations of Vouvray, Savennieres, Anjou, and Saumur. In particular, the great Vouvrays and Savennieres are stunningly complex, long lived wines with racy acidity. In the Loire chenin blanc is made in a variety of degrees of sweetness from bone-dry to quite sweet. Many have a touch of sweetness that is barely perceptible, the result of leaving a tiny bit of residual sugar in the wines to accentuate fullness and balance the acidity. Fully sweet chenin blancs can be phenomenal. The most recognized of all is Quarts de Chaume, from a tiny area in the middle of the Loire Valley.
Chenin blanc is also the leading white grape of South Africa, where it is locally known as Steen. There, however, it is unfortunately made mostly into a simple, innocuous, easy-drinking wine. In California, chenin blanc becomes a wine that is effortless to drink, with soft, round flavors and notes of pears, melons, apricots, apples, and honeyed syrup.
Viticulture & Vinification
Resistance to many diseases, vine vigor, and the tendency to early bud break and late ripening, while retaining naturally high acidity, suits chenin blanc to grow in climates otherwise too warm for many vinifera varietals. The vine grows well in many soil types and can be very vigorous in either sandy loam or clay loam. Production is fairly consistent at from five...
By Brandon Wright
Oenology & Viticulture
12/14/11
History
Chenin blanc, also known as Pineau de la Loire, Steen, Anjou, Confort, Franc Blanc, Pineau de Savennieres, Pineau Gros, Pineau Gros de Vouvray, Rouchalin, Stein, and many other names is a white wine grape varietal from the Loire Valley of France. It is considered a blank canvas for wine makers in its’ ability to produce everything from sparkling wines, long lived, unctuous, nectar like dessert wines, crisp, dry table wines, and even brandy.
The most famous, vibrant chenin blancs in the world come from the Loire Valley of France, specifically from the appellations of Vouvray, Savennieres, Anjou, and Saumur. In particular, the great Vouvrays and Savennieres are stunningly complex, long lived wines with racy acidity. In the Loire chenin blanc is made in a variety of degrees of sweetness from bone-dry to quite sweet. Many have a touch of sweetness that is barely perceptible, the result of leaving a tiny bit of residual sugar in the wines to accentuate fullness and balance the acidity. Fully sweet chenin blancs can be phenomenal. The most recognized of all is Quarts de Chaume, from a tiny area in the middle of the Loire Valley.
Chenin blanc is also the leading white grape of South Africa, where it is locally known as Steen. There, however, it is unfortunately made mostly into a simple, innocuous, easy-drinking wine. In California, chenin blanc becomes a wine that is effortless to drink, with soft, round flavors and notes of pears, melons, apricots, apples, and honeyed syrup.
Viticulture & Vinification
Resistance to many diseases, vine vigor, and the tendency to early bud break and late ripening, while retaining naturally high acidity, suits chenin blanc to grow in climates otherwise too warm for many vinifera varietals. The vine grows well in many soil types and can be very vigorous in either sandy loam or clay loam. Production is fairly consistent at from five...