Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc: The Versatile White Grape of the World

Chenin Blanc is one of the world’s most versatile and expressive white wine grape varieties, renowned for producing styles ranging from crisp, dry whites to lusciously sweet dessert wines and vibrant sparkling wines. Originating in France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc has found a second home in South Africa, where it is the country’s most widely planted white grape and often called “Steen.”

On the palate, Chenin Blanc offers refreshing acidity and flavors of green apple, pear, quince, and stone fruits, often accented by floral and honeyed notes in richer styles. Its naturally high acidity makes it ideal for both dry and off-dry wines, as well as age-worthy sweet wines that develop complex flavors of honey, lanolin, and nuts over time.

South African Chenin Blanc has gained global acclaim for delivering exceptional value and diversity—from lean, mineral-driven wines perfect for seafood, to fuller-bodied, oak-aged expressions with creamy textures and layered complexity.

Whether enjoyed young and zesty or mature and opulent, Chenin Blanc’s incredible adaptability makes it a must-have in any wine lover’s cellar.