This Saturday June 8 is Drink Chenin Blanc Day! Similarly to chardonnay, chenin blanc is known for its vast array of styles. From crisp and dry to richer, fuller-bodied styles, sparkling to sweet, chenin is an under-recognised all-rounder.
The first records of chenin blanc date back to the 1500s, where it was found in France's Loire Valley, but it is believed to have originated many centuries earlier. In the 17th century, the grape travelled from France to South Africa, where the bulk of the world's plantings are today.
In Australia, chenin blanc is steadily gaining popularity for its versatility and ability to pair well with food. The majority of plantings are in Western Australia, particularly in the Swan Valley and Margaret River, but it can be found in tiny amount elsewhere.
In honour of Drink Chenin Blanc Day, try one of these five Australian expressions.
2023 Aravina Estate Block 4 Chenin Blanc
Pale gold with a green hue. Lifted citrus and primary notes of apple and peach on the nose, with secondary character of brioche and hazelnut show the subtle oak influence. On the palate, nashi pear and a subtle phenolic texture balanced with fresh acidity give the wine balance and structure.Chief winemaker Ryan Aggiss says: Vineyard and block site play a significant part in this wine, to the point that row selection is utilised to ensure the highest quality fruit lands in the winery. Because of this, the process is seamless through the winery to bottle. Minimal intervention allows the fruit to speak of place grown. Care and diligence through the production of this wine allow the true varietal characters to shine through with some lees and new oak influence.
H. How should people enjoy this chenin blanc on Drink Chenin Blanc Day?
RA. The 2023 Aravina Estate Block 4 Chenin Blanc is best enjoyed with friends and family. Serve slightly chilled with a lovely dish of WA dhufish, accompanied by a spicy Thai green salad.
H. What do you think the future looks like for chenin blanc in Australia?
RA. The future is bright for Australian chenin blanc. A greater understanding of the varietal within Australia and number of outstanding producers are driving this varietal. The history and pedigree of chenin blanc at the Aravina Estate site speaks of this statement.
RRP $33 | Drink to 2029 | aravinaestate.com | Halliday profile | Shop this wine
2023 Cape Grace Wines Chenin Blanc
The nose is quintessential chenin blanc, showing plenty of apple, pear notes and some complex flint characters. The palate is crisp and crunchy like a freshly picked pink lady apple. Tropical notes of pineapple and pawpaw come through with delicious textural weight imparted from a small portion of wild barrel ferment. Bright acidity gives line and length to this classic Margaret River chenin blanc.Winemaker Conrad Tritt says: This wine is treated with kid gloves from vine to bottle. Fruit is sourced from a single vineyard, 0.6ha of 27-year-old estate vines, hand tended by the winemaker. Leaf plucked and shoot thinned to open the canopy, ensuring airflow and sun exposure create pristine fruit, left to hang for optimal fruit concentration and flavour profiles.
The grapes are picked in the cool of the early morning to ensure retention of fruit purity and freshness. Gently pressed, with only the best portion (free-run) kept for this wine. Cloudy juice is fermented in 80 per cent stainless steel, the remainder wild fermented in old French barriques creating a fruit driven style that is also textural. Unfined and bottled young to showcase vineyard and site.
H. How should people enjoy this chenin blanc on Drink Chenin Blanc Day?
CT. This wine is best enjoyed with a selection of your favourite people. It's a perfect match for Thai food – spice works well on the palate with this wine.
H. What do you think the future looks like for chenin blanc in Australia?
CT. Bright and crisp, just like our wine!
RRP $26 | Drink to 2029 | capegracewines.com.au | Halliday profile | Shop this wine
2023 Faber Vineyard CBP
Pale straw in colour, with light, fresh apple and baked ricotta aromas. The palate is tight with bright green apple and pear flavours, a certain smooth richness, and a long finish with crisp, classic, chenin blanc acidity.Winemaker John Griffiths says: Made from wonderful dry-land grapes from the Swan Valley, where we have over 100 years of history making delicious chenin blanc wines. The fruit is picked early to capture freshness and vitality – expressed as intense Granny Smith apple-like characters and crisp acidity. The grapes were handpicked and chilled to five degrees, then crushed and pressed, hence CBP. The juice is then fermented in 12 year old oak barrels, to add a layer of complexity and minerality to the wine.
H. How should people enjoy this chenin blanc on Drink Chenin Blanc Day?
JG. The wine is simply delicious and a delight to drink. It has a wonderful balance of intensity and evenness of flavour. It is light to medium bodied with a crisp feel. The flavours are absolutely typical of chenin blanc – all green apple, pear and celery – with a background of creamy ricotta-like yeasty flavours that soften and seemingly expand the palate.
H. What do you think the future looks like for chenin blanc in Australia?
JG. The future is exciting. Fresh, flavoursome and delicious wines will always command a place in our wine choices, and Swan Valley chenin blanc has amply demonstrated its potential to deliver that.
RRP $36 | Drink to 2030 | fabervineyard.com.au | Halliday profile | Shop this wine
2023 John Kosovich Wines MARA Chenin Blanc
All fruit hand harvested and bunch sorted before a gentle pressing. Bright green in colour, the wine opens up with citrus, fresh apple and lime. Fine and tightly structured showing floral, spicy notes and fresh, vibrant fruit with length and purity. Fine concentration of flavour complemented by a touch of oak perfume and spice. The acid structure gives the wine a lift through the whole spectrum that provides a beautiful crunchy feel.Winemaker Anthony Kosovich says: Our 'MARA' Chenin Blanc is crafted as a tribute to our mother Mary, recognising her contribution to Kosovich winemaking history over six decades. At birth her mother informed the midwives that the baby’s name would be Mara, a name of Croatian origin. It was not uncommon for midwives to anglicise names, and she was officially recorded as Mary. The fruit for this wine was sourced from our oldest chenin blanc vines, planted in 1962. It has cellaring potential for many years.
H. How should people enjoy this chenin blanc on Drink Chenin Blanc Day?
AK. Chenin blanc is a food-friendly variety that matches well with a wide variety of dishes. The high natural acidity in the wine can cut through and match well with flavoured dishes such as grilled calamari or richer, creamier seafood risottos. Aged examples can be perfect with grilled chicken and also greatly benefit from prior decanting for one hour.
H. What do you think the future looks like for chenin blanc in Australia?
AK. Popularity of chenin blanc is on the rise as the Australian public begin to discover it. Its high acidity makes it such a versatile one to work with, and the range of styles being made make it an exciting prospect ahead.
RRP $46 | Drink to 2033 | johnkosovichwines.com.au | Halliday profile | Shop this wine
2022 Nocton Chenin Blanc
The 2022 vintage has fresh green apple aromas. The palate is soft and rounded, with fresh acidity and a well balanced mouth feel.Winemaker Alain Rousseau says: Our chenin blanc exudes vibrant green apple flavours, with a medium body and fresh acidity. The flavours of our chenin blanc are quite different to the more traditional warm-climate chenin blanc, which often have a more full-bodied flavour, and tend towards stone fruits and tropical fruits rather than green apple. The green apple flavours provide a crisp, refreshing wine.
H. How should people enjoy this chenin blanc on Drink Chenin Blanc Day?
AR. A cool-climate chenin blanc, known for its high acidity, crispness, and often complex flavours, pairs beautifully with a variety of foods. Roasted, caramelised pork belly is an excellent choice to pair with our chenin blanc, as the wine's acidity and green apple flavours balance the rich, sweet, and salty profile of the pork.
H. What do you think the future looks like for chenin blanc in Australia?
AR. The future of chenin blanc is indeed full of endless possibilities. Its ability to produce a variety of styles, pair with a wide range of foods, and offer a unique alternative to more commonly known white wines makes it a compelling choice for both novice and experienced wine drinkers. As more wine enthusiasts discover its charms, chenin blanc is poised to continue gaining popularity and recognition in Australia.
RRP $50 | Drink to 2034 | noctonwine.com.au | Halliday profile | Shop this wine
