Great whites... and all from just one grape

OFTEN underrated, Chenin blanc - “shen-nin blonk” - is a versatile, aromatic white grape that produces a huge array of wines depending on region and climate, from light easy-sipping, to rich and intense with bold fruit flavours.

- by Matt Nixson

The grape travels well, adapting to local soil and climatemaking it one of the world’s best all-rounders.

It provides crisp dry whites and sparkling wines, oak-aged wines similar to chardonnay, off-dry styles and dessert wines. And it’s typically great value. Dry wines are medium-light bodied and minerally, with high acidity and flavours of apple, pear and quince. Richer complex styles are full-bodied and offer ripe peach and honeysuckle notes, but retain high acidity and mineral freshness. High-quality sweet wines offer ripe apricot, mango and citrus peel.