What Type Of Wine Is Chenin Blanc
There is no such thing as one type of Chenin Blanc. Chenin can be produced in a wide range of sweetness, from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, and can be made in still, sparkling, and dessert wine styles. For the most part, Chenin delivers a brisk and vibrant acidity across all its styles, and notes of apples, pears, and white flowers are widespread in the great majority of them. Take a look at our guide to find more details on how to choose different styles.
Other Loire Valley Chenin Blanc
Vouvray is located in Touraine, just outside the city of Tours, France and is part of the Middle Loire Valley wine growing area. Since Chenin Blanc is a major grape of this part of the Loire Valley, there are a few other regions worth exploring if youre a fan of Vouvray:
Montlouis
A wine growing area located directly on the south side of the river. This region produces wines in a very similar style to Vouvray, and is a great alternative, especially on hallmark vintages, such as 2015.
Anjou and Côteaux du Layon
A larger region to the west of Vouvray that has a special focus on sweet Chenin Blanc and sparkling wines. For sparkling, Anjou Mousseux and Crémant de la Loire both contain Chenin Blanc as a base. For sweet wines, the Côteaux du Layon makes stupendous sweet wines made with noble rot. Within Côteaux, there are a few sub-regions that produce the most expensive sweet Chenin in the world, including Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux.
Savennières
A Chenin Blanc produced in a style very unlike Vouvray using oxidative winemaking, which deepens the color, reduces the fresh floral characteristics, and adds a nutty, ripe apple flavor to the wines. Savennières may be an acquired taste for most, but the region has an ardent following and overall, produces exceptional quality wines.
Learn About French Wines In A Weekend
To dive deeper into the world of French wines, learn more about the countrys wine production. You might not be able to get an invitation into Frances most exclusive wine cellars. In just a few hours, you can learn the nuances between each popular grape variety, sweet wines, and sparkling wine. To learn more, pick up the Great Course The Everyday Guide to Wines of France by Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan on Audible. You can also see my full review of the course here to find out if it is right for you: The Everyday Guide to Wines of France Review Learn French Wine In An Afternoon.
Recommended Reading: Tj Swann Easy Nights
Vouvray Wine Total Wine & More
- https://www.totalwine.com/wine-guide/french-wine/loire/vouvray
- Vouvray wine is testament to the versatility of the Chenin Blanc grape. Produced in a series of villages that overlook the Loire and Brenne rivers in the Touraine region of the Loire Valley, Vouvray can be dry, off-dry, sweet or sparkling.. The Chenin Blanc varietal native to the Loire, where it was named for nearby Mont Chenin thrives in the Vouvray appellation.
All About Vouvray Wine Wine Folly
- https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/all-about-vouvray-wine/
- May 16, 2017 ·Looking to Buy a Bottle? Vouvray wine price: In the US, you can expect to spend between $18$25 for a decent bottle of Vouvray wine, either sparkling or still. On the high end, $35$55 should afford you the very best current releases from great producers. Pay attention to vintage when buying Vouvray: Loire is a cooler climate growing region, and the shoulder seasons of spring and fall
You May Like: Does All Wine Have Sugar
Information About Chenin Blanc
Chenin has tremendous versatility, but most of the wines it produces have high and vibrant acidity. This can result in being extremely appealing to winemakers in warm climates such as California and South Africa, but sometimes presents a challenge to their French counterparts, where the climate is known to be much cooler.
It can be still or sparkling, dry, medium-dry, sweet, or occasionally very sweet, which calls for an extra-discerning eye when trying to pick the right bottle. Our experts at Empire Wine have laid down a quick guide to help you make the right choice.
Quick Facts About Vouvray
- All Vouvray wines are Chenin Blanc, but not all Chenin Blanc are Vouvray! Vouvray wines are produced using Chenin Blanc grapes in Vouvray, France. But Chenin Blanc, in theory, can be grown anywhere!
- Ages 10 years or several decades!
- Vouvrays annual production 52% sparkling, 48% still
-
Pale yellow Chenin Blanc grapes already give notes of apple, honey, pear, and citrus. Just before it fully matures and ripens, the fruit becomes highly acidic.
Also Check: What Cheese Pairs Well With Cabernet Sauvignon
They Have Not Just Succeeded Over Time But Have Ebbed And Flowed In Popularity Many Making Their Comeback Over The Past Few Decades
Last week, we told you about the gorgeous Chenin Blanc grape of the Loire Valley, and this week, you get to learn about the fabulous Vouvray, a white wine made from the Chenin Blanc. As you can tell from our recent weeks of articles, the Loire Valley is a mecca for outstanding wines, ones that have not just succeeded over time but have ebbed and flowed in popularity, many making their comeback over the past few decades.
So, youre probably asking, if Vouvray is made from the Chenin Blanc grape, doesnt that make them the same thing? Well, the short answer is yes. But as you may remember from previous articles, in Old World wine regions, especially France, wines get their name from their specific region, and can only be called that when they are produced in said region. So, Vouvray is made in Vouvray, France, a tiny little town nestled on the Loire River, and it is made from Chenin Blanc grapes which theoretically can be grown anywhere.
This beautiful white wine has a pretty wide range, from sparkling to still, dry to extra sweet, with the most popular being brut and demi-sec sparkling, made in the same methode traditionelle as Champagne. The demi-sec, or off-dry is a very popular manifestation of Vouvray, meaning it is half sweet, or has a bit of residual sugar, which helps to balance its wonderful acidity and strong minerality.
Loire Valley Vouvray Wines Under $50
Use the following wines as a starting point in your wine shop. I found these wines based on the excellent database created by the wine experts at Wine-Searcher.com.
- 2015 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec
- 2018 Francois Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin
- 2018 Domaine Vincent Careme Vouvray Sec
- 2014 Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec
- 2018 Domaine Sebastian Brunet Vouvray Les Pentes de la Folie
Also Check: Stella Rosa Moscato D’asti Alcohol Content
Vouvray Wine: Taste And Sweetness Levels
As you browse among the wide range of white wines at your local wine store, one question is probably going through your mind. Will I like this French wine from the Loire Valley? Ultimately, the best way to answer this question is through direct experience. Buy a few wine bottles and try them.
Still, you probably want to know what to expect when you open a bottle? Okay! Lets take a look at the wines flavor profile.
What Is Vouvray Wine
Vouvray Chenin Blanc, or you can think of it as the Riesling wine of France. Its an aromatic and sweet white wine made of Chenin Blanc grapes with excellent acidity.
This beautiful white wine comes in a pretty wide range. In fact, its the only other wine that can rival Riesling in versatility!
Vouvray wines are almost exclusively made with 100% Chenin Blanc grapes. Although 5% of Arbois grapes are permitted, its rarely used to make this wine.
Recommended Reading: Can You Ship Alcohol To Illinois
South Africas Chenin Blanc
In the 2000s, my first encounter with the wines of South Africa did not leave a good impression. As a student, I tended to pick up wine bottles with a low price tag. As it turns out, the lowest-priced wines are not that great! Today, South Africa Chenin Blanc is well made and competes against Vouvray.
Wine expert points out that South Africa has more Chenin Blanc grapes planted than France. Thats not all. Winemakers in South Africa have been working hard to boost the quality of their Chenin Blanc since the 1990s. Those efforts led to the great of the Chenin Blanc Association in 2000.
When you visit the wine shop, what exactly should you look for? Ask for bottles with the Certified Heritage Vineyards seals because that is a marker of quality. Specifically, the seals mean that the wine is made from older, well-established wines. Note that South African wines may not use the word Vouvray because that word refers to a wine-making area in France.
Last Word: Beyond Vouvray
The Dutch were obsessed with the grape of Vouvray during the age of exploration and planted Chenin Blanc Today, Chenin Blanc is the most planted grape in South Africa. Youll find the best wines in this area are inspired by the styles from Vouvray and the greater Loire Valley. So, if you are a fan of this grape variety, this is a wine country that youll find fascinating to uncover on your journey to wine nirvana.
Don’t Miss: Wine Out Of White Shirt
La Taille Aux Loups Clos Michet 2019
Pure and focused dry wine a star wine made for a lighter fare! Its juicy on the palate with a penetrating finish, offering a refreshing zesty flavor. Consider pairing it with your salad, roast chicken, seafood, or light, creamy pasta. Excellent to taste now, but even better after a couple of years!
Tasting Notes: crisp apple, grapefruit, honey
Barton & Guestier Vouvray Loire
- https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/barton+guestier+vouvray+touraine+loire+france
- Vouvray is the most famous and most respected appellation of the Loire Valley’s Touraine growing region. The title covers white wines of various styles , from eight villages around the medieval town of Vouvray, on the northern banks of the Loire river. Vouvr…86%
Don’t Miss: How To Cut A Glass Bottle Lengthwise
New World Chenin Blanc
Because of its natural ability to produce a bright acidity, Chenin has found a terrific opportunity to thrive in the warm and sunny climates of California and South Africa. In the words of the famous wine critic Tim Atikin, “Despite its unfashionability, Chenin Blanc is grown in a large number of places. Chenin pops up, like a traveler on a round-the-world ticket, in California, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, Uruguay, Mexico, and Brazil.”
In the new world, it is primarily made in a dry style, delivering a ripe and tropical-fruit spectrum of flavors. Expect to find yellow/baked/bruised apple, peach, quince, pear, passion fruit, and honeydew melon.
It is not particularly rare for some of these wines to go through partial malolactic fermentation and aged on lees and in oak, since its flavorful profile is beautifully complemented by the nutty and toast notes enhanced by these techniques.
All About Vouvray Wine
Vouvray is a white wine made with Chenin Blanc grapes that grow along the banks of the Loire River in the Touraine district of France. Wines range in style from dry to sweet, and still to sparkling, each with its own distinct character. Regardless of style, Vouvray is loved for its delicate floral aromas and boisterous taste that will pucker your lips and make you immediately wish for another sip.
Vouvray is Chenin Blanc, and to a certain extent, Chenin Blanc is VouvrayJancis Robinson, The Oxford Companion to Wine
Since Vouvray wines range quite a bit, its useful to know a little more about the different styles of Vouvray to identify what you like.
Also Check: Best Wine For Cheddar Cheese
Where Is It Produced
Vouvray wines are made of Chenin Blanc grapes grown along the Loire River banks in the Vouvray part of Touraine, France.
Vouvray wine region one of the most respected and famous appellations in Loire Valley. Its topography varies, creating a range of local meso climates. Still, it has a northerly cool climate the entire year with clay-like chalky soil ideal for growing Chenin Blanc grapes!
The Nibble: A Guide To Vouvray How To Buy Vouvray
- http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/wine/guide-to-vouvray.asp
- An overview of Vouvray wines, and pairing semi-sec vouvray with Asian skirt steak. THE NIBBLE, ‘Great Food Finds,’ is an online gourmet food magazine and website with a thousand product reviews of gourmet food and beverages, including kosher, diet, and organic products. There’s also an opt-in newsletter that delivers a top food pick of the week, and a food tip of the day.
Read Also: What’s The Lowest Calorie Wine
What Is Vouvray
Vouvray is an AOC in the Loire Valley in Northern France. These wines are made almost entirely with Chenin Blanc a small portion of a lesser-known variety called Arbois is also allowed, but very rarely used.
The grape’s naturally high acidity characterizes the style of Vouvray. It relies hugely on each harvest climate, and the levels of sweetness determine its balance. Notes of apples, white flowers, ginger, honey, and nuts are typically found in Vouvrays.
