{"id":13957,"date":"2017-03-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-10T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.invinic.com\/3-surprising-facts-about-chenin-blanc"},"modified":"2018-02-15T16:25:28","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T15:25:28","slug":"3-surprising-facts-about-chenin-blanc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.invinic.com\/en\/3-surprising-facts-about-chenin-blanc","title":{"rendered":"3 surprising facts about Chenin Blanc"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chenin Blanc<\/b><\/a> has a low profile as far as wine grapes go. When compared with <\/span>Sauvignon Blanc<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Chardonnay<\/span><\/a>, poor Chenin is so often forgotten about. It may not be flashy, but any serious wine lover would surely appreciate what Chenin can offer when given half the chance! The Chenin Blanc grape is incredibly versatile, and is grown in a number of diverse locations throughout the world. Let\u2019s learn a little about the grape by uncovering three facts that might just surprise you!<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Chenin Blanc is South Africa\u2019s signature white wine grape<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As we said, Chenin\u2019s profile is quite low. It\u2019s not exactly a household name – unless you live in a house full of winegrowers or connoisseurs, of course! If you\u2019ve ever been to a supermarket and spotted a wine with \u201cChenin Blanc\u201d on the label, it\u2019s likely to be from one place: South Africa<\/a>. As this country is the world\u2019s largest producer of the grape<\/strong>, South African Chenin Blanc ranges from entry-level to super premium, and can offer a wide range of flavours. For the most part, expect a light to medium-bodied wine with fruit aromas ranging from passion fruit and apple to peach. Chenin is known locally as \u201cSteen<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>, and these wines usually offer a solid quality\/price ratio.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. But the best Chenin Blanc wines are French!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Winemaking in South Africa<\/strong> continues to come on leaps and bounds, so who knows how good South African Chenin<\/strong> will be in ten years. For now, though, it\u2019s the French that are producing the best Chenin Blanc in the world. This should not be surprising, as France is the grape\u2019s home, and the French know a thing or two about winemaking. The heartland of Chenin Blanc in France is the Loire Valley, where the grape is used to fantastic effect in dry, sweet and sparkling wines. High-quality Chenin can age for an incredibly long time, and is rightly considered as a top French wine. Appellations to look out for include:<\/p>\n