Anjou in the Loire Valley is an important region for the white grape Chenin Blanc. In Anjou you find for example Savennières where they produce great dry Chenin wines and Coteaux du Layon where they make some fabulous sweet Chenin wines. Today there are 5000 hectares of Chenin Blanc in Anjou. The black grapes have increased and winegrowers are now concerned that the Chenin surface will fall even further.
Chenin Blanc has never been a trendy grape variety but isn’t it time for this great and versatile variety to get into the limelight? We have loved it for a long time.
It is not France but South Africa that has the largest surface planted with Chenin Blanc, 18 500 hectares. France has 9800 hectares, of which most is in the Loire Valley. 500 hectares is in Limoux in the Languedoc. In South Africa a fair amount of Chenin is distilled for brandy and some of the rest becomes simple bulk wine but there are fortunately a group of growers who takes advantage of the grapes amazing character.
Chenin Blanc, we support you!
Read more here: vitisphere.com
