Chenin Blanc is one of—if not You can also find out more about the following:—most versatile wine grapes on the planet. It is produced all over the globe, from its ancestral home in France’s Loire Valley to South Africa, California and well beyond, expressing itself in various ways wherever it’s grown. The high-acid grape is best known for producing fresh, vibrant wines—especially when grown in cooler climates. But it’s also a shape-shifter made into a wide range of styles, including still, sparkling and pétillant forms, with varying levels of residual sugars that range from dry and off-dry to sweet.
“Wines made from Chenin Blanc have delicate aromas and flavors of apple, melon and honey and can be paired with the level of dryness or sweetness you most prefer,” says Reggie Solomon, Wine Enthusiast’s resident Loire Valley reviewer. “Chenin Blanc is truly the khakis or little-black-dress of wine that is an adaptable and versatile pairing partner at any table.”
Need a wine with a lighter body and high acidity to go with goat cheese, or cream sauces? Pick up a bottle from the Loire (Solomon suggests Vouvray, Montlouis-Sur-Loire and Savennières). You need something that is a little more ripe and has a bigger body. Consider a Chenin or…
