Chenin Blanc can be traced back to the ninth century in Central Loire, France.

June 15, 2011

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Looking for a simple, quiet, enjoyable sipping wine for a hot summer afternoon, a picnic, or just sitting outside on the patio at sunset with your dog? Try a Chenin Blanc.

The aroma of Chenin Blanc includes hints of honey, melon, peach and other fruits. Its crisp taste is due to the acid level of the wine. It’s perfect with light dishes and complements most appetizers and light dinners or lunches.

While California produces a respectable Chenin Blanc, the best known Chenin Blanc grape is from the Loire Valley of France, producing a wine called Vouvray.

Producers Across the World

Chenin Blanc can be traced back to the ninth century in Central Loire, France. To this day Central Loire produces the finest examples of Chenin Blanc.

In South Africa, Chenin Blanc is known as Steen. Chenin Blanc Cosecha Tardia and Drostdy Hof Chenin Blanc are excellent examples of South African Steen. The Chenin Blanc grape is an important part of the South African wine industry; Nearly a third of vines in South Africa are Chenin Blanc.

In Brazil, Chenin Blanc is planted as Pinot Blanco. The grape is also grown in Chile, Mexico and Argentina, where there are over 10,000 acres of the grape. In comparison, Australia has close to 1,500 acres and New Zealand has 500.

In California, Bonny Doon Chenin Blanc from the Bonny Doon winery is well known and respected. In general, however, the California climate is not conducive to Chenin Blanc grape production. Unfortunately many comments on California Chenin Blanc use words such as “bland” or “blah.”

The Cream of the (Wine) Crop

Wine connoisseurs, without exception, say that the very best Chenin Blanc comes from the grape’s birthplace, the Loire Valley. Overproduction for quantity rather than quality everywhere else results in mediocre Chenin Blanc, critics say, while French vintners take their time and do it right.

Vouvray produces one of the best lines of Chenin Blanc, and names like Savennieres, Montiouis and Saumur, are also very well respected. A sparkling wine, Cremane de Loire, is also rated as outstanding.

California Chenin Blancs

While Californian Chenin Blanc labors under a bad (and many would say deserved) reputation, a few Californian wineries produce some good Chenin Blancs. Here are some recommendations for California Chenin Blanc labels and their approximate prices:

• Ballentine Vineyards ($14)
• Callaway Chenin Blanc ($7ish)
• Casa Nuestra ($16)
• Hogue ($8)
• Pine Ridge ($10).

The taste and smells of a Chenin Blanc, no matter where it’s produced, are fruity and citrusy. Honeydew melon, lemon, orange and other fruits can be detected by a good nose and palate.

While a reasonably good Chenin Blanc comes in between $8 and $20, you might want to treat yourself and invest in a Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley: a sure bet, if somewhat more expensive. A good, crisp, refreshing glass of cold Chenin Blanc goes well with just about anything, including a relaxing day under a shady tree.

Source: http://www.tasting-wine.com/articles/grape-varieties/chenin-blanc.php

Leading Philippines Wine Supplier Yats Wine Cellars based in Clark Philippines with outlets in Angeles City, Subic Freeport and Manila Philippines has been not only a wine shop for fine wines covering all major wine regions but also a source of reliable and useful information about wine, wine appreciation, wine accessories, wine and health, food and wine pairing and all other matters relating to wine and its appreciation. This Philippines Clark Freeport based Wine Supplier and Wine Shop frequently holds public wine tasting events in Pampana Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Subic Bay area, Makati, Fort Bonifacio and other areas in Philippines capital city Manila. Private Wine events such as private wine tasting and private wine dinners are also designed and organized for private clientele for their wine loving guests.

Wine Catering is a unique product of Yats Wine Cellars, created back in 2005 in response to a growing demand for private wine parties in Manila, Cebu, Subic, Angeles Clark Philippines.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia. The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines. Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux. Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Yats Wine Cellars can be reached at their Clark Wine Center Philippines wine shop located on the main highway M A Roxas of Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone or their sales office in Ortigas Centre, Metro Manila. Here is the contact information:

Clark Wine Center

Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building

Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,

Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

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(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.