Chenin Blanc - The Most Versatile Cultivar in the World

Chenin Blanc is an incredibly versatile grape that is able to produce a bounty of complex and unique wines. As Graham Howe once said: “Wooded, unwooded, wild ferment, whole bunch pressed, free-run, barrel-fermented, concrete-egg and tank-fermented, dryland, single vineyard, bush-vine, block by block, soil- specific, straw wine and vine-dried, organic, biodynamic and even sparkling – Chenin Blanc’s repertoire is as wide as it is diverse.”

A few quick Chenin Facts, before we dive into the versatility:

• Looking at the history of Chenin blanc, this versatile grape originated in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley in France in 1496. 

• In France Chenin Blanc is also called Pineau de la Loire and in South Africa it is sometimes referred to as Steen.

• After years of research it was announced at the Chenin Congress in 2019 that Chenin Blanc is an offspring of Savagnin & Sauvignonasse. 

• South Africa has more than 50% of the world’s Chenin Blanc vineyards, this is followed by the Loire Valley in France and very small quantities can be found in California, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina and even China!

• The first Chenin Blanc was planted in the Western Cape in 1655.

• Chenin Blanc represents 18% of South Africa’s vineyards and 21% of Chenin Blanc made in South Africa are made from grapes grown in the Breedekloof Valley.

The versatility of Chenin Blanc is endless and it is a cultivar that can be made in different styles that is perfectly suited for any occasion.

At Jason’s Hill, winemaker Ivy du Toit, was the first to make a Cap Classique in the Breedekloof valley with 100% Chenin Blanc grapes. Made by the traditional method, The Arrois Cap Classique 2018 was aged for 42 months on the lees to develop a creaminess and delicate mousse while still maintaining bright, fresh apple and white peach aromas.

If you are looking for a wine that is an unwooded, classic Chenin Blanc, Lieza Van Der Merwe’s The Merwida Chenin Blanc, has typical varietal characteristics of guava, tropical and fresh green apples. These aromatics are carried through onto the palate where it is complimented with subtle honey notes. A great medium bodied wine with well balanced fruit and acidity.

There are some excellent examples of rich and luscious Chenin Blancs crafted by The Breedekloof Makers. One being the Olifantsberg Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2020, made by the talented winemaker Elizma Visser. A delicate nose with hints of crisp apple, white pear and lingering pineapple. Elegant mouthfeel and texture to compliment a coated acidity with good depth of fruit. 65% of this fine wine was fermented and aged in 2000-liter oak foudres, 16% in older 500-liter French oak barrels, 13% in stainless steel, 6% in egg and maturation on the gross lees took place for 9 months.

When Chenin Blanc has been fermented and matured in oak it results in a serious wine style that is a match made in heaven with a grilled fillet served with Béarnaise sauce and grilled asparagus. Henri Swiegers makes an excellent example of this style of Chenin Blanc with his Badsberg Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2020 which was fermented in oak barrels and matured on the lees for 8 months, resulting in a wine that has the perfect balance between tropical flavours and soft oak tannins.

Chenin Blanc has thin skins which means it easily gets affected by Botrytis, a type of fungus, resulting in luscious natural sweet wines. One such example is Slanghoek Cellar’s Crème de Chenin which is an elegant natural sweet wine made from predominantly Chenin Blanc grapes. Refreshingly sweet and crisp on the palate with a fruity bouquet and long lingering aftertaste displaying a hint of botrytis.

Let’s not forget about South Africa’s award winning Cape Brandies. Chenin Blanc and Colombar make up the base wine for most of our excellent brandies. Chenin Blanc is rich in esters, which gives our Cape brandies their luscious and upfront fruity character.

In conclusion, with the wide range of styles and versatility of the Chenin Blanc grape, whenever you are in doubt and don’t know what cultivar to buy - think Chenin Blanc, it would not fail to impress no matter what the occasion.