Chenin Blanc is a French Grape variety from the Loire Valley. It can be planted in a variety of soils.

It is a vigorous grower with a good wind resistance, but its early budburst can expose it to spring frosts.

It can also be susceptible to botrytis on rich soils, and has medium resistance to other diseases. It can be a high yielder with spur pruning.

The vine is grown extensively outside France, particularly South Africa, California and now Australia.

Chenin Blanc typically produces crisp flavoursome white wines, displaying herbaceous, herbal, grassy, floral, apple, tropical fruit, almond, marzipan and honey flavours and aromas. It can be used to produce exquisite sweet wines so long-lived they rarely are given time to reach their peak! The variety is used to produce dry and demi-sec wine styles.

The wine has very high acidity, masking youthful sweetness and sustaining the wine into a very old age. In South Africa, this acidity enables the wine to stay lively and fruity even in less than favouable conditions. In Australia, Chenin Blanc, is grown widely in the Swan District and Peel Regions of Western Australia and Best’s Great Western in Victoria.

At Bacchus Hill Winery, we have a 2005 Chenin Blanc which displays, penetrating citrus peel, grapefruit flavours. Its high alcohol adds weight and length to its crisp and zesty palate, and our 2005 Chenin Blanc Demi-Sec has subtle aromas of citrus peel and candied pineapple. Its lingering palate of honeydew melon and almond is enhanced by a fine crisp zesty finish with a hint of sweetness.

Our 2006 Chenin Blanc is an elegant refreshing wine which displays a characteristic apple nose, overlayed with mineral undertones. Its palate of apple, bitter almond and tamarillo enhances the lingering well balanced, crisp finish.

With a dry style Chenin Blanc you may wish to partner it with summery foods, such as salads, fish, stir fries, and seared scallops, whilst the sweeter demi-sec style is best enjoyed with spicy chicken or pork dishes, particularly sweet and sour pork.

Served chilled it makes a delightful aperitif, or a great choice with your cheese platter or dessert. All in all, a very versatile but unfortunately, underrated wine style.