Chenin Blanc White Wine Variety

Chenin blanc is a highly revered white variety from the central regions of the Loire Valley where it is used to make sweet, semi-sweet and dry white wines and also sparkling wine.

Unfortunately it is not so well loved elsewhere.

Where Chenin Blanc grows in Australia

Chenin in France

The famous Loire Valley wines of Vouvray are made from Chenin blanc. The variety is also used for making wines under the appellations of Montlois, Savennieres and Saumur, to name just a few.

It is also grown in the Languedoc region where it is a component of the sparkling Cremant de Limoux.

See the digital wine map of France to locate these regions.

Chenin Blanc elsewhere

This variety is very popular in South Africa where its ability to yield well and hold its acidity in warm climates is seen as an asset.  Quality is not always so good but many winemakers who realise the value of it are intent on making fine wines.

It is grown in California and other parts of the USA and to a limited extent in South America.

Chenin was once very popular for making cheap bland wine in New Zealand but is now in rapid decline.

Quote from Jancis Robinson

Chenin In Australia

Check out this article about award-winning Chenin. In Australia

Most Australian plantings are in Western Australia, but Chenin is present in most Australian regions. It is probable that the WA propensity for using the variety is a result of importation of vines from South Africa in the 19th Century.

Around Perth and the Swan Valley the variety has historically played a role similar to that it plays in South Africa, producing wines of no great character. The variety is reasonably popular in Margaret River where growers and winemakers have more of an eye for quality.

In the past Chenin was a major component of blended wines under the general heading of "Classic Dry White" which is popular in Western Australia. Houghtons White Burgundy was the most famous of these.  Nowadays Chenin appears much less frequently in these blends.

Elsewhere in Australia the variety plays a minor role in a number of regions, but it is fair to say the Australia has yet to produce a great Chenin blanc. The possible exception being a one-off late harvest wine produced by St Leonards in the late 1970s. I recently tried a dry Chenin from the same maker and found it excellent. 

Australian Producers

• Abbey Vale - Margaret River
• All Saints Estate - Rutherglen
• Ampersand - Pemberton
• Anderson Winery - Rutherglen
• Andrew Peace Wines - Swan Hill
• Aphelion - McLaren Vale
• Aravina - Margaret River
• Bella Ridge Estate - Swan Valley
• Berg Herring - McLaren Vale
• Black Coat wines - Gippsland
• Blind Corner - Margaret River
• Blood Moon - Heathcote
• Brash Higgins - McLaren Vale
• Bremerton - Langhorne Creek
• Brini Estate - McLaren Vale
• Broken River Vineyards - Goulburn Valley
• Brookside - Perth Hills
• Brookwood Estate - Margaret River
• Campbells Wines - Rutherglen
• Cape Grace Wines - Margaret River
• Capel Vale - Geographe
• Casley Mount Hutton - Granite Belt
• Castagna Vineyard - Beechworth
• Chapman Valley Wines - Central Western Australian Zone
• Chidlows Well - Central Western Australian Zone
• Churchview Estate - Margaret River
• Clairault Streicker - Margaret River
• Cofield Wines - Rutherglen
• Coriole - McLaren Vale
• Corymbia - Swan Valley
• Coughlan Estate - Geographe
• Darling Estate - King Valley
• Dormilona - Margaret River
• Dowie Doole - McLaren Vale
• Dune - McLaren Vale
• Faber Vineyard - Swan Valley
• Fermoy Estate - Margaret River
• Flametree - Margaret River
• Flying Fish Cove - Margaret River
• Garbin Estate - Swan Valley
• Goon Tycoons - Margaret River
• Green Valley - Margaret River
• Gwynnyth Vineyards - Pyrenees
• Happs - Margaret River
• Harris Organic Wines - Swan Valley
• Heafod Glen Winery - Swan Valley
• Henley Park Winery - Swan Valley
• Hither and Yon - McLaren Vale
• Hotham Ridge Winery - Peel
• Howard Park - MArgaret River
• Intrepidus - Canberra
• Jadran - Perth Hills
• Jane Brook Estate - Swan Valley
• Jarrah Ridge Winery - Perth Hills
• Jericho - Adelaide Hills
• John Gehrig Wines - King Valley
• John Kosovich Wines - Swan Valley
• Kalleske Wines - Barossa Valley
• Kevin Sobels Wines - Hunter Valley
• Kneedeep - Margaret River
• Kyotmunga Estate - Perth Hills
• Lamonts - Swan Valley
• Lancaster Wines - Swan Valley
• Lenton Brae - Margaret River
• L’Enologa - Murray Darling
• Mandoon - Swan Valley
• Marri Wood Park - Margaret River
• Matilda's Estate - Denmark
• MMAD - McLaren Vale
• Moorebank Vineyard - Hunter Valley
• Moss Brothers - Margaret River
• Murray Estate - Big Rivers Zone
• Myattsfield Vineyard and Winery - Perth Hills
• Nikola Estate - Swan Valley
• Nocton - Southern Tasmania
• Oakover Estate - Swan Valley
• Olive Farm - Swan Valley
• Pandemonium Estate - Swan Valley
• Paul Conti Wines - Greater Perth Zone
• Peel Estate - Peel
• Peel Ridge - Peel
• Peter Lehmann - Barossa Valley
• Pikes - Clare Valley
• Pinelli - Swan Valley
• Pirramimma - McLaren Vale
• Plan B - Frankland River
• Redgate - Margaret River
• Riverbank Estate - Swan Valley
• Roman Road - Perth Hills
• Romavilla - Queensland Zone
• Rusden Wines - Barossa Valley
• Scarpantoni Estate - McLaren Vale
• Schwarz Wine Company - Barossa Valley
• Settlers Ridge - Margaret River
• Sevenhill Wines - Clare Valley
• Sherrah - McLaren Vale
• Sidewood Estate - Adelaide Hills
• Sittella - Swan Valley
• Siverina Estate - Perth Hills
• South by South West - Margaret River
• Spider Bill Wines - Adelaide Hills
• St Leonards - Rutherglen
• Swings and Roundabouts - Margaret River
• Talijancich - Swan Valley
• Tassell Park Wines - Margaret River
• Temple Bruer - Langhorne Creek
• Torrent - Swan Valley
• Trait Wines - Margaret River
• Tregarthen - Barossa Valley
• tripe.Escariot - Margaret River
• Tumblong Hills - Gundagai
• Upper Reach Vineyard - Swan Valley
• Valee de venom - Margaret River
• Vino Volta - Swan Valley
• Willoughby Park - Denmark
• Willow Bridge Estate - Geographe
• Windows Estate - Margaret River
• Windy Creeek Estate - Swan Valley
• Wines of Merritt - Margaret River
• Woody Nook - Margaret River
• Xanadu - Margaret River
• Yayoi - Mount Macedon
• Yeah Wines - Margaret River

See the full list of varieties described on this site

Subscribers to Vinodiversity Community get invites to Darby's Special Taste and Talk Sessions. 

Become a member of Darby's Vinodiversity Community 
You will keep up to date with the Alternative varieties scene and receive invites to special virtual taste and talk events.