Origins and history:- Originates in France in the Loire Valley and makes some of the most varied and long-lived wines in the world. Actually, South Africa has approximately three times as much Chenin as France, many of these vines very old and well-established. Also known here as ‘Steen’, Chenin is undergoing a serious image makeover from its reputation as producing cheap and cheerful unwooded wines to ones of complexity, depth, longevity and interest – if SA is going to make a world-beating wine, it will probably be from Chenin Blanc. Also makes some of the longest-lived sweet wines in the world.
Characteristics:- flavours of ripe apples and pears in youth, maturing to honeyed richness, ‘wet wool’, buttered toast all balanced by a high acidity. Can be unwooded, wooded, dry, semi-sweet or if conditions are right, fully sweet as a result of noble rot.
Famous wines:- Vouvray, Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon (all off-dry to sweet French wines)
Good Local examples:- Ken Forrester, Raats Family, Teddy Hall, Eben Sadie
If it was a person: – Scarlett Johannsson