Wine · Grape variety guide
Grape Variety Guide · WSET Level 2
Chenin Blanc
The Loire's most versatile white — sparkling, dry, sweet or anything in between.
High acidity
Very versatile
Honey & quince
Where it grows
- Vouvray & Montlouis, France — still and sparkling, dry to sweet, all from the same grape
- Savennières, France — dry, age-worthy, mineral-driven styles
- South Africa — the country's most-planted grape, from everyday wine to premium old-vine bottlings
- Loire Valley, France — also a base for traditional-method sparkling wine
- California, USA — smaller plantings
What it tastes like
- Green apple and quince when young
- Honey and dried apricot with age or botrytis influence
- High acidity throughout, whatever the sweetness level
- Styles range from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, plus sparkling
Growing notes
- Buds early, leaving it exposed to spring frost
- Ripens late and unevenly, which actually gives growers more style options at harvest
- High natural acidity supports everything from dry still wine to sparkling to sweet botrytis styles
Good to know
Chenin Blanc's naturally high acidity is exactly what lets a single Loire appellation like Vouvray make a bone-dry still wine, a sparkling base, and a lusciously sweet botrytis wine — all from the same grape, depending on the vintage.
Exam tip
Expect a question testing the grape's range of styles within one appellation (Vouvray can be still, sparkling, dry or sweet) — a favourite "how many styles can one grape make" example.
Part of the Grape Guide — browse all varieties, or jump back to the study sheet.
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