It’s Time to Swap Your Chardonnay for a Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is often overshadowed by its more famous white-grape counterparts (ahem, we’re looking at you, Chardonnay). But it’s definitely a mistake to put this baby in a corner. 

One of the world’s most versatile grape varieties, it’s understandable that this workhorse could be overlooked or misunderstood in the sea of options available. But, like all celebrated varieties, the best ones shine in greatness. Their distinct characteristics and penchant for reflecting both terroir and technique rise like few others. 

Originating from France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc now thrives globally, especially within the winelands of South Africa, where the grape dates to 1655. The grape exhibits a masterful ability to showcase bright acidity, ripe fruit flavors, complex textures, and a distinct connection to terroir.

But what makes Chenin Blanc such a powerhouse is its capacity to span a multitude of styles, from fresh and fruity or crisp, mineral-driven expressions to full-bodied, oak-influenced wines and beyond, and at surprisingly accessible prices. The range of styles can be driven by climate and site-specific nuances, or molded to suit diverse palates.

Ready to ditch the expected? Explore all this dynamic variety has to offer, and why it deserves a permanent place in your wine stash. Here are four styles of Chenin Blanc and a dozen bottle recommendations to match, inspired by the Chardonnay you might already adore.

Rich and Creamy

If you cherish the buttery, toasty richness of a California Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc can deliver a similar experience in oak-aged expressions. Look for wines from warmer climates that were fermented and spent some serious time in oak, often labeled as “wooded” Chenin Blanc, which augments the grape’s orchard-fruit tones and supple texture with hints of vanilla, toasted nuts, and baking spice. 

South Africa’s Stellenbosch region can yield opulent Chenin Blancs of this nature, like Simonsig’s Chenin Avec Chêne (with wood) or Ken Forrester’s The FMC, named for the wine’s collaborators (Forrester Meinert Chenin), but colloquially referred to as something far more colorful (hint: it rhymes with “ducking mind-blowing Chenin”). Both showcase creamy layers, rich wood tones, and luxurious mouthfeels, yet each still retains the grape’s signature acidity.

Mineral-Driven Elegance

For fans of Chablis or lightly oaked Chardonnay from exalted appellations, lean into Chenin’s crisp, mineral-driven expressions from a range of terroirs around the world. In France, consider the Loire Valley’s Savennières or Anjou regions, where the grape thrives in soils rich with schist, slate, or limestone. Saumur Blancs, like those from Domaine Guiberteau or Château de Villeneuve, offer laser-like precision, zesty citrus notes, and pronounced minerality, all without breaking the bank. 

For South African single-site selections that speak of varied soil types in a way that would make even the most devout Burgundy fan swoon, seek out any of Mullineux’s single-site Chenins — Granite, Iron, and Schist — from Swartland. They zero in on the appellation’s primary yet distinctively diverse soil types. Or choose Alheit’s variety of expressions sourced from unique sites across the Cape Winelands. 

Bright and Fruity

Not everyone needs a big, flashy wine. Those who enjoy juicy, vibrant, and fruit-forward Chardonnays from regions like Oregon or Carneros may appreciate Chenin Blanc when wood is left out of the vinification mix. 

South African classics, such as the Raats Original Unoaked Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch and Beaumont Chenin Blanc from Walker Bay, excel at this style. They offer pronounced flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, and tropical pineapple that are balanced by lively acidity for a refreshing palate and mouthwatering finish. In the U.S., Washington State has worked with the grape for more than 75 years, though plantings have diminished significantly over the last few decades. A stalwart? L’Ecole No. 41, which has produced its old-vine, snappy and aromatic unoaked Chenin Blanc since 1987.

Sparkling Brilliance

For bubbly lovers of blanc de blancs Champagne, or other Chardonnay-based sparkling wines, Chenin is a hidden gem. The grape’s natural high acidity makes it perfect for exceptional sparkling wines, particularly in the Loire Valley and South Africa, with crisp bubbles, green apple freshness, and a touch of brioche. 

In the Loire, Chardonnay can be added to the mix, but many Crémant de Loire selections showcase Chenin as the primary variety, including Chateau Pierre-Bise Brut, now crafted exclusively from the grape, and Arnaud Lambert’s Château de Brézé Brut. 

In South Africa, the top name in the sparkling game is Méthode Cap Classique, or MCC, a traditional-method sparkling wine style often made with classic Champagne varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier). There are a handful of uniquely South African MCC sparklers made from Chenin, though they can be tricky to find stateside. If you’re ready for a hunt, track down Sparklehorse Brut to send you off to the races.