Chenin Blanc Wine

Chenin Blanc (pronounced sheh-nuhn blahnk) offers wine drinkers waves of refreshment and complex flavors.

The grape variety makes for wines with high acidity and flinty notes, suits various wine styles—still, sparkling, dry, off-dry and sweet.

Chenin Blanc is a high-yielding variety with large, round berries. As a late-ripening grape, it’s often among the last harvested. Its high acidity makes it ideal for aging, with many wines suitable for long cellaring.

Our Chenin Blanc selection offers something for everyone. Explore our range to find the perfect wine for any occasion.

Chenin Blanc is grown all over the world but the best known examples come from France’s Loire Valley, where its use dates back to the ninth century. Originally, it was used for sweet sparkling or still wines served as dessert wines.

The grape is now grown widely in South Africa as well and makes many of the country's most popular white wines.

Thanks to Chenin Blanc's natural high acidity, it still retains excellent freshness in warmer climates, such as Australia. It also grows well in cool climates like those in New Zealand and Chile. As a high-acid wine, it is also often used to freshen up white blends. Chenin Blanc is also often used to make brandy.

Chenin Blanc wines appear differently depending on their style. Still Chenin Blanc typically has a light gold color, which can develop to rich gold to amber color as it ages. Sweet Chenin Blanc appear deeper gold as well, while sparkling feature a pale yellow to light gold hue, accompanied by a fine mousse of tiny bubbles.

Most Chenin Blancs have a medium body and high acidity. It has the freshness and vibrancy essential for dry still, fine sweet wines and sparkling wines.

For late-harvest releases, the sugar levels increase as the grapes ripen longer on the vine. This makes them better suited for crafting sweet wines.

Chenin Blanc can also be aged in oak barrels, which adds creamy complexity and soft textures to the wine.

Chenin Blanc has a range of aromas, from citrus to orchard-fruit flavors like peach and apple, or tropical-fruit flavors such as melon and pineapple. It can also offer floral notes, honeysuckle and jasmine most notably. Chenin Blanc from rockier climates can also contain flinty or smoky notes.

Typically, Chenin Blanc has some combination of the following flavors:

• Apple
• Peach
• Pear
• Ginger
• Honeysuckle
• Jasmine
• Passion fruit

Some of the sweeter styles of Chenin Blanc contain notes of:

• Orange
• Mango

Chenin Blanc produced in oak barrels tends to include additional flavors of:

• Cream
• Butterscotch
• Nutmeg
• Lemon curd
• Meringue

To pick a good Chenin Blanc, start by understanding the style you prefer. Chenin Blanc can range from dry to sweet or sparkling, so look for terms like "dry," "off-dry" or "sweet" on the label.

Chenin Blanc from France’s Loire Valley, especially from areas like Vouvray or Savennières, often delivers high-quality, terroir-driven wines.

South African Chenin Blanc is another popular choice, known for its vibrant acidity and fruit-forward profile.

Consider the vintage as well—while younger wines are typically fresh and fruity, aged ones develop more complex honeyed and nutty notes.

Chenin Blanc is a versatile wine that pairs well with a wide variety of foods, depending on its style. For dry or off-dry Chenin Blanc, consider pair oysters, shrimp, scallops and more seafood. It also complements chicken dishes, especially when prepared with herbs or light sauces.

If the wine is slightly sweeter, it pairs beautifully with spicy dishes like Thai or Indian cuisine, as the sweetness balances the heat. For sweet Chenin Blanc, try pairing it with rich, creamy cheeses like blue cheese or brie. You can also pair it with desserts such as fruit tarts, crème brûlée or apple-based desserts.

Sparkling Chenin Blanc is fantastic with salty snacks or appetizers like charcuterie, olives or nuts, offering a refreshing contrast to the food.

All styles of Chenin Blanc (sweet, dry and sparkling) are best served chilled (between 44-50 degrees F). Sparkling Chenin Blanc can also be served in flutes, which allows the bubbles to retain their effervescence as it travels to your mouth.