Chenin Blanc: From Dry to Sweet – A Versatile White Wine

Imagine a grape that can be made into a dry, mineral-laden wine, a luscious sweet wine, a sparkling wine, or even all three; and everything will express the soil and climate of its origins. That one grape is Chenin Blanc—versatile, expressive, and still surprisingly affordable.

In fact, South Africa has over 50% of the global vineyard plantings of Chenin Blanc. Even with Chenin Blanc's global notoriety, many wine drinkers have yet to grasp the vastness of this varietal.

At Woodland Hills Wine Company, we have seen many people's jaws drop around Chenin Blanc when they have discovered something to pair with their spicy Thai curry or creamy brie - all at a phenomenal price!

What Is Chenin Blanc? A Quick Introduction to the Grape

Chenin Blanc has grown in France’s Loire Valley since at least the 9th century. It's naturally high acidity keeps the wine fresh, even in sweet styles. This is how Chenin Blanc excels: it tolerates a great variety of wine styles better than any other white grape.

Compared to wines such as Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc finds itself somewhere in the middle. Similar to Riesling, it will be produced in sweet or dry styles. However, unlike Riesling, it tends to be richer and less fragrant. Sauvignon Blanc is more herbal and zesty, whereas Chenin introduces orchard fruits such as apple, pear, and even tropical flavors depending on where it is produced.

One special characteristic of Chenin Blanc is its inherent versatility. With good acidity and a neutral character, winemakers can play with it—oaking it, aging it sur lie, or letting botrytis (noble rot) concentrate its sugars for dessert wines. Few other white grapes offer this breadth of style.

The Loire Valley: The Classic Home of Chenin Blanc

The Loire Valley is Chenin Blanc’s historic heartland. The cool climate of the area maintains the grape's acidity, producing crisp, structured, and long-lived wines. Some bottles age exquisitely for decades.

Three principal appellations are notable:

• Vouvray: This is the most renowned. Here, Chenin Blanc is produced in all levels of sweetness, from dry (sec) to sparkling (pétillant) to richly sweet (moelleux). The wines are frequently aged in cellars excavated out of limestone, which contributes minerality to the taste.
• Savennières: They are almost always dry, tightly structured, and often take several years to soften. They're subtle and profound, with lanolin, beeswax, and overripe pear flavors.
• Anjou: Sweet and dry Chenin Blancs are made here. The best sweet wines, especially from the Côteaux du Layon subzone, are made from botrytis-affected grapes, which concentrate sugars and flavor.

The Loire's varied soils and microclimates provide Chenin Blanc a variety of expressions—a tribute to its versatility.

Chenin Blanc in South Africa: The Modern Powerhouse

South Africa has not merely embraced Chenin Blanc - it has made it its own. Called Steen in South Africa, the 17th-century arrival of Chenin Blanc to this region with French Huguenots now dominates 50% of their vineyards. Chenin's exuberant tropical fruit grams- pineapple, guava, passionfruit, and so on- respond to warmer climates and older vines and differ from the restrained style of the Loire. Areas like Swartland or Citrusdal Mountain, with bush vines and minimal intervention, fly past what we would consider traditional Chenin and create wines that crackle with that kind of energy. 

From Bone-Dry to Lusciously Sweet: Understanding the Sweetness Spectrum

Chenin Blanc covers nearly the entire sweetness spectrum.

• Dry: Dry, crisp, and ideal with food. Try to find those which are marked as "Sec" (for French wines) or low residual sugar in New World wines.
• Off-Dry: A bit sweet with a smooth finish. These tend to work well with spicy or savory food.
• Sparkling: Sparkling Chenin Blanc can be produced in both dry (Brut) and half-sweet (Demi-Sec) versions in Vouvray.
• Dessert: Botrytized or late-harvest wines that are long, sweet, and rich.

Three main factors control sweetness: harvest date (later harvest = sweeter), type of fermentation process (stopped early = sweeter due to higher residual sugar), and whether there is noble rot. Always check tasting notes or the label to discover your style of choice.

Tasting Notes: Flavors and Aromas Across the Styles

Chenin Blanc offers a rich sensory experience depending on the style:

• Dry Chenin: Expect flavors of sliced pear, lime zest, and a touch of crushed vineyard gravel. Consider a youthful Savennières for its electric tasting minerality.
• Off-Dry: Ripe peach, honeysuckle, and a kiss of ginger, ideal for those seeking sweetness without the syrup.
• Sweet: Botrytis-affected wines ooze dried apricot, saffron, and honeycomb flavors, and oak-aged wines add toast and vanilla notes. 

The aging complexity is fantastic, a decade-old Vouvray might develop into nutty waxy perfection, and South African wines develop even more tropicality.

Perfect Pairings: What to Eat with Chenin Blanc

Chenin is so good with rich dishes, it slices through them with almost expert precision.

• Dry styles: Pair with salads made with goat cheese or lemony seafood. 
• Off-Dry: Match with spicy curries or glazed pork.
• Sweet: Serve with blue cheese or tarte Tatin. 

Pro tip: Loire loves creamy styles of chèvre, and South Africa's fruit-forward Chenins are excellent with bobotie (a Cape Malay curry). 

Why Chenin Blanc Deserves a Spot in Your Cellar

Whether you’re stocking a cellar or just keeping a few standby bottles, Chenin Blanc is a savvy choice. It's good for anything, from Tuesday nights to milestone birthdays.

More upscale bottles, especially those from Savennières or old-vine South African producers, will age beautifully for 10 to 20 years. Over time, they develop intense, complex notes of honey, almond, and dried fruit.

You can also find wonderful value with Chenin Blanc. There are a number of great bottles available for less than $30; these bottles are affordable enough for the casual collector, but are also reasonable enough for the serious collector's cellar. 

When cellaring your wine for aging, always do this in a dry, dark location at 55°F. When serving, dry and off-dry wines should be served best at 45-50°F, while serving sweet wines a bit cooler.

We offer a wide range of Chenin Blanc alogn with other amazing, versatile whites such as Riesling.

Shop the Best Chenin Blancs Online at WHWC!

At Woodland Hills Wine Company, you will find interesting selections of Chenin Blanc from both well-known French terroirs and daring new producers from South Africa. We have bright, dry Chenins, ripe, sweet Chenins, and everything in between.

Ready to explore the world of Chenin? We just listed these awesome selections:

• David & Nadia Chenin Blanc 2022: A Swartland beauty with hints of aniseed and yellow apple.
• Alheit Huilkrans 2023: Fresh lime and wet stone from Citrusdal Mountain, South Africa.

Whether you’re stocking weeknight whites or hunting for cellar‑worthy gems, Chenin Blanc delivers remarkable range for the price. Browse our full lineup online, drop by the shop, or chat with our team for a tailored recommendation—then pour a glass and taste why this versatile grape has sommeliers buzzing from the Loire to Swartland. Your new favorite white could be one click away!

Related Products