WineGuessrWhite grape variety
Chenin Blanc
Also called Steen, Pineau de la Loire
Chenin Blanc is a white grape from Anjou in France's Loire Valley, known for high acidity and wines that run from dry and sparkling to botrytised and sweet. Its strongholds are the Loire and South Africa, which had 18,852 hectares in 2008, nearly twice France's area.
| Color | White (green-skinned) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Anjou, Loire Valley, France (an offspring of Savagnin) |
| Body | Light to full |
| Acidity | High |
| Typical aromas | quince, green apple, pear, greengage, honey, chamomile, pineapple, wet wool |
| Key regions | Anjou (France), Touraine (France), Swartland (South Africa), Stellenbosch (South Africa), Paarl (South Africa), California (United States) |
Origin and history
Chenin Blanc comes from the Anjou area of the Loire Valley, where it may have been cultivated as early as the 9th century; land grants by Charles the Bald in 845 are sometimes cited as the first trace. In the 16th century Rabelais praised the white wines of Anjou. DNA work has shown a parent-offspring relationship with Savagnin, the Jura grape, making Chenin a half-sibling of Sauvignon Blanc and Trousseau. Settlers took the vine to the Cape, where it became known as Steen. In 2008 France had 9,828 hectares and South Africa 18,852 hectares, making the Cape the world's biggest grower.
Where it grows
In Touraine it makes Vouvray, which can be dry, off-dry, sweet or sparkling. In Anjou it gives the intense dry whites of Savennières and the noble-rot sweet wines of Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux. It is also a component of Blanquette de Limoux in Languedoc. In South Africa, old bush vines in Swartland are prized, and Stellenbosch, Paarl and Tulbagh are major sources. California plantings peaked in the 1980s and had fallen to 7,223 acres by 2010, and Chenin is also grown in India around Nashik.
Taste, wine styles and food
High natural acidity is Chenin's defining trait, and it allows the grape to make an unusually wide range of styles: crisp dry whites, traditional-method sparkling wine, off-dry wines and long-lived botrytised sweet wine. Typical notes are quince, apple, pear and greengage, with honey, chamomile and a waxy texture as the wine ages; warmer New World examples lean toward pineapple, guava and banana. Top Loire Chenin can age for decades. Dry styles pair with pork, chicken, river fish and goat cheese, off-dry versions with spicy Asian dishes, and sweet Coteaux du Layon-style wines with blue cheese or fruit tarts.
Wines made with Chenin Blanc (10)
WineGuessr lists 10 wines made with Chenin Blanc, from 3 countries. Most come from France (5).
- BonnezeauxAOC · Thouarcé, Loire Valley · Sweet white
- NashikWine region · Nashik, Maharashtra · Red & white
- Quarts de ChaumeGrand Cru · Rochefort-sur-Loire, Loire Valley · Sweet white
- SavennièresAOC · Savennières, Loire Valley · White
- SwartlandWine of Origin · Malmesbury / Riebeek-Kasteel, Western Cape · Red & white
- VouvrayAOC · Vouvray, Loire Valley · White
- Blanquette de LimouxAOC · Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon · Sparkling
- PaarlWine of Origin · Paarl, Western Cape · Red & white
- StellenboschWine of Origin · Stellenbosch, Western Cape · Red & white
- TulbaghWine of Origin · Tulbagh, Western Cape · Red & white
Chenin Blanc: questions and answers
What grape is Vouvray made from?
Vouvray is made from Chenin Blanc. It can be dry, off-dry, sweet or sparkling depending on the vintage and producer.
Is Steen the same as Chenin Blanc?
Yes. Steen is the traditional South African name for Chenin Blanc, still seen on some labels.
Is Chenin Blanc dry or sweet?
Both. Chenin Blanc makes dry, off-dry, sweet and sparkling wines, so check the label or appellation: Savennières is dry, Quarts de Chaume is sweet.
Which country grows the most Chenin Blanc?
South Africa. In 2008 it had 18,852 hectares, nearly twice the area planted in France.
Other white grapes
All grape varieties →Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Last reviewed October 2026.