Chenin Blanc

Vouvray is a French wine appellation devoted to the great Chenin Blanc grape, which is expressed vibrantly in this gorgeously fresh and light bodied but intensely flavoursome white wine. Its high acidity and expansive fresh flavours make Chenin Blanc one of the most versatile wines with its bold and bright lemon, honey and floral aromas. High acidity adds length and backbone to the palate of this lovely wine. 

The history, mystery of a long established winery

The Domaine Marc Bredif winery is one of the great names of the Loire. The estate has enjoyed a long and colourful history, having been established in 1893 under the original name of Château les Roches. In 1919, not long after the end of the First World War, Marc Bredif took over from his Uncle and renamed the property to mark the change of ownership. His focus was simple, to forge an unrivalled reputation for excellence amongst the estates of the Loire Valley.
He invested heavily in the estate during the 1930’s, building a tremendous circular storage room in the heart of its cellars, which today houses venerable vintages of sweet Vouvray, some of which date back to the 1900’s. The property managed to survive the Second War World War relatively unharmed and remained under family control until the 1980’s. As is so often the case, family intrigue and financial necessity meant that the Domaine had to be sold, and in 1980 Baron Patrick de Ladoucette acquired the estate. Thankfully, the Baron was every bit the conscientious owner and has given new life to Marc Bredif – investing heavily and expanding their holdings to include some of the most prized Vouvray vineyards – 20 hectares in total. Picking exclusively by hand, the Domaine produces some of the most profound and immortal expressions of Chenin Blanc, in a range of styles to suit all wine lovers.

Versatile, refreshing and incredibly age worthy. Chenin Blanc is one of the great grapes of the wine world for all these qualities and more and this one is made with grapes grown on Ian Quinn?s Two Terraces vineyard in Mangatahi, Hawke's Bay. Quinn, the grape grower, is an unapologetic devotee of Chenin Blanc, which he supplies to several passionate winemakers, including Gordon Russell of Esk Valley. 

Russell ferments this Chenin in stainless steel, maturing it in a concrete egg for six months on fine lees. It's dry in taste and literally just off dry in style with residual sugar of 5.8 grams per litre. 

New Zealand?s climate is exceptionally well suited to this stunning classic French white grape variety, as winemakers such as Gordon Russell of Esk Valley, has shown for decades through his passionate perseverance with this lively white grape. 

Chenin Blanc is one of the world's most versatile grape varieties because it can be used to make bone dry, full bodied whites, which both France and South Africa specialise in and it can also make super succulent sweeties. The grape's naturally high acidity adds balancing freshness to wines made from it, which retain a brightness and lively style. 

This is a fabulous little French Chenin Blanc from Vouvray - queen of the Loire Valley appellations (wine areas) devoted to Chenin. Flavours here run the gamut of delicious lemony fruity flavours in an off dry. Florals, citrus and peach on the nose feed into a similar profile on the palate, with further white flowers and honey notes.

Pair with fish and lightly spiced Asian cuisine.

Mount Edward Winery is one of the few producers of great Chenin Blanc in New Zealand and this is a dry style with succulent flavours of white peach, a hint of honey and juicy acidity giving this wine its mouthwateringly long finish. 

Mount Edward Wines was founded by the godfather of modern Central Otago wine, Alan Brady, in 1997. Its name comes from Mount Edward and iti s situated at the foot of this mountain in the Gibbston Valley, which is the source of some of the grapes used in its wines. Most of the vineyard source for Mount Edward is further afield, notably in Pisa at the outstanding Morrison Vineyard and in Bannockburn at the Muirkirk Vineyard. 

A great white from the world's most southern wine region.

Winemakers James and Annie Millton were the first in the country to produce a certified organic wine in 1984 and have since pioneered biodynamic grape growing and winemaking practices, along with retaining a strong loyalty to lesser known great grape varieties, such as Chenin Blanc.

Te Arai Vineyard Chenin Blanc is one of their finest wines and best known for its consistently high quality and ability to age. The Chenin Blanc grape is known and loved for its vibrant high acidity which provides a freshness to the wine and the ability to age for the long term. 

If you haven't tried this great white, it's time to get in touch with one of the country's most iconic wines. 

Chenin Blanc is one of the great white grapes of the wine world and is beautifully expressed in this dry white from North Canterbury, which rocks with flavours of crisp and crunchy green apples, a note of spice and a honeysuckle impression on the bone dry finish.

This fresh and fruity wine, made from 100% Chenin Blanc is a perfect match for white fish or an excellent aperitif. The nose is lemony and fresh, with green apple, honey notes, and a touch of floral complexity. This is a dry and mineral Vouvray, with moderate acidity and a medium-full body. Champalou embraces sustainable farming methods and biodynamic principles in their vineyards, producing elegant wines with great finesse.

A delicious dry and savoury Chenin Blanc with crisp apply acidity and a full body, showing off the fleshy citrus and stone fruit flavours in this wine, which comes from South Africa - the world's headquarters of Chenin Blanc, in terms of volume of grapes planted. 

Chenin Blanc is the leading grape variety in South Africa and is made in a wide range of styles. This is one of the best and was made by A A Badenhorst in South Africa's Swartland region, where Chenin grows superbly well. With a smattering of Palomino, the grape typically used for sherry, this wine is deliciously dry and savoury with crisp apply acidity and a full body, showing off fleshy citrus and stone fruit flavours.

Dry, flinty, full bodied and creamy with flavoursome ripe apple and honey notes. This Hawke's Bay Chenin Blanc is sure to please both Chardonnay lovers and those who like crisp dry whites without all the bells and whistles too; it successfully straddles a diverse array of wine style thanks to clever winemaking from Rod Easthope, sources grapes from the Two Terraces Vineyard, inland in the Bay and owned by Chenin devotee Ian Quin..

Chenin BLanc is one of the least planted but most promising white grapes in New Zealand and is also one of the world's most versatile, thanks to the wide range of wines that can be made from it - from light to full bodied, still to sparkling and dry to lusciously sweet.

This Chenin Blanc comes from Hawke's Bay winemaker Rod Easthope, who used old barrels to ferment this Chenin, which adds body, weight and savouryness. It drinks well now and can definitely age further too, thanks to the grape's naturally high acidity, which acts as a preservative.

Chenin Blanc is the most popular grape in South Africa and it classically over delivers with great freshness and depth of flavour. Its naturally high acidity is softened in this wine with a rounded textural mouthfeel, citrus characters marrying harmoniously with ripe pears and stony, complex aromas that add interest.

Mullineux was established in 2007, when Chris and Andrea Mullineux settled in the Swartland wine region, 60 kilometers north of Cape Town. Within a very short time the winery established itself as one of South Africa?s most celebrated wine brands, both locally and on the international front. 

By 2020 the winery had received 30 five star ratings from Platter?s South African Wine Guide.

Kirsten and Richard Searle are great champions of Chenin Blanc in Gisborne and theirs is made with grapes from the Briant's vineyard in the Patutahi region just across the river from Matawhero. Aromas in this wine are all about rich citrus blossom, supported by white floral and honeysuckle flavours combined with fresh acidity and a medium body. A stunning alternative medium dry white - great drinking, lightly chilled, year round. 

If you like a lighter style of Chardonnay, you'll love this tasty Gisborne white.

Fab dry South African Chenin Blanc ? one of the best and one of our favourites in store here at Regional.

Fromm winemaker Hatsch Kalberer makes this wine from hand harvested grapes which are pressed into 228L and 600L Burgundy oak barrels for wild yeast fermentation and then matured in barrel on fine lees for 12 months. The result is a super fresh, vibrant and full bodied dry white which expresses the great refreshing acidity of the Chenin Blanc grape - and his thoughtful winemaking. 

An outstanding wine and one of our staff favourites. Great as an aperitif because it's so refreshing and also excellent with seafood.

If Chenin has fallen off your fine wine drinking radar, try this fabulous French example, made from grapes grown on soils of flint and limestone. Flavours of fresh green apples, honey and citrus all combine in every beautifully balanced sip of this outstanding Loire Valley Chenin Blanc from top producer, Bernard Fouquet.