Celebrating Chenin’s Winning Wines

Saturday 10 June 2023 is International Drink Chenin Blanc Day, a celebration of this iconic cultivar that was started in 2012 by a group of Chenin-loving American retailers and sommeliers across 10 cities in the USA and then went global.

Although Chenin’s origin can be traced to the Loire Valley in France, it is also the Cape’s most widely planted wine grape variety and South Africa boasts double the hectares of plantings compared to the Loire. Today, winegrowers are raising the standards of Chenin to new heights.

One of South Africa’s most successful calling cards, versatile Chenin is a ‘chameleon’ of a wine that can be made in many styles, from fresh, vibrant dry and off-dry wines with a crisp, zesty finish to fuller and more ripe, rich wines with barrel fermentation and ageing. The more complex, aged Chenins sometimes display a distinct honeyed characteristic.

An exceptionally food-friendly wine, Chenin can be partnered with a wide range of dishes. However, it goes particularly well with mild, spicy Asian cuisine, as well as seafood and sushi, creamy fish dishes, poultry and vegetable bakes. This makes Chenin a wine for any and every occasion, from a casual braai to a formal dinner – whatever tickles your fancy, Chenin is sure to do the trick, and our portfolio covers all the bases.

Let’s start by flying over the Atlantic Ocean to Chile, where Cederberg’s owner-winemaker David Nieuwoudt and his long-time friend in wine, Julio Bouton, collaborate across continents on the Longaví range. A stellar success story, the Longaví Cementerio 2020 was recently rated 93 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Cheers to #DrinkCheninDay!