Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc, Chenin blanc also, is a widespread, ancient white grape variety in France ( in Anjou - Touraine ) is cultivated since the 9th century. It belongs to the noble grapes. It is also called Pineau de la Loire or Pineau d'Anjou; in South Africa it is called Steen in South America and Pinot Blanco. As Steen (often stone) is the most common white grape variety in South Africa where it is used, for example, for fortified wines and wine as a base for spirits.

The variety is very productive, and if the income is limited, the quality of the white wine produced from it is excellent.

Chenin Blanc is susceptible to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), which is why it is often used for good sweet wines. The versatility of the grape becomes clear when one considers that from her one hand sparkling wines are produced because of their high acid content, but is sold simultaneously in other regions as well as a table grape.

Origin

Pierre Galet reported that grape was known since the year 845 in the area of ​​Anjou. In the early 15th century, it came as a Plant d' Anjou (French: plant of Anjou ) in the Touraine.

In Gargantua and Pantagruel, a novel cycle whose five volumes in 1532, 1534, 1545, 1552 and 1564 appeared the author François Rabelais mentioned the variety and praised the healing effects,

" Than this was done the bargain left the shepherds and shepherdesses bey the awakening and noble grape Being excellently well waved after the merry Bockspfeif each other around in a circle, and mocked the großmauligen Men Wake - knight that she angel open so bad, because they not with the good hand early in the morning the cross had blessed: and washed the Forgier with coarse Rüßlingen (*) so neatly the sore leg that he was healed soon. "

Together with the variety Gouais Blanc created by natural crosses the varieties Balzac blanc, Meslier -Saint -François and Colombard. DNA analyzes in Austria and France also showed a relationship with the parents Sauvignon Blanc. A study published in 2010, this study exposes the descent of Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc x Gewurztraminer close.

Dissemination

France

See also the main article viticulture in France.

Vineyards (2007): 9,756 acres. (Source ONIVINS ) The vine grew strong drives from early and ripens late - both features that make them ideal for the cooler Loire Valley. There he produced excellent qualities from appellations such as Anjou, Bonnezeaux, Chaume, Coteaux de l' Aubance, Coteaux du Layon, Jasnières, Mont Louis, Quarts de Chaume, Saumur, Savennières, Vouvray and Crémant de Loire.

In particular, the wines from the appellations Bonnezeaux, Chaume, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume be expanded sweet, just a stroll away while the nearby vineyards of Savennières developed mostly dry white wines provide. In the vineyards of Savennières there are two individual layers with great reputation and its own AOC:

• Savennières Roche -aux -Moines, 19 acres in size, not very homogeneous in possession of several wineries, so in quality. Great wine when it comes from a good producer.
• Savennières Coulee de Serrant, 6.85 acres, in the sole possession of Nicolas Joly family from Château de La Roche- aux- Moines. The wine of this southwest-facing location on the banks of the small creek Serrant is one of the most expensive white wines of France and is sought worldwide.

The wines of Anjou, Coteaux de l' Aubance, Jasnières, Montlouis, Vouvray and Saumur and Crémant de Loire sparkling wines cover the full range of flavors from dry, semi-dry and sweet. The pronounced acidity of the wines makes them ideal for the production of sparkling wines Crémant de Loire and Vouvray. Outside the Loire Chenin in the sparkling wines Blanquette de Limoux (share well below 10 %) and Crémant de Limoux (share 20-40 %) included.

Most of the wines of the Loire Chenin build the 100% percent purity. In the appellations of Anjou, Saumur and Touraine, however, is adding max. 20 percent of the Chardonnay and / or Sauvignon Blanc allowed.

Even for the simple Anjou Blanc, a gain of more than 45 hl / ha is required. In other areas such as in the Central Valley (California ), three to four times the income retracted. So it is hardly surprising that the Chenin character appears quite neutral except on the Loire.

South Africa

See also the main article viticulture in South Africa.

Vineyards (2007): 19,161 acres.

In South Africa, Chenin is about twice as much as grown in France ( 2007). Said the Cape usually Steen variety stops there 18.8 % of the vineyard occupied. In 1965 the connection between Chenin and cultivated at the Cape species was detected. With some probability, the vine in 1655 by Jan van Riebeeck came to the country by means of a Rebkollektion. In the year 1685 150 French Huguenots arrived at the Cape. They are considered as first winery of the Cape Colony and should the variety have found locally. However, it has been known for several centuries only under the name Steen. Only in the year 1965 it was demonstrated that Steen and Chenin Blanc are identical. The international interest in the Steen was awakened since the 1960s, when the South African winemakers waited on with attractive white wines. This was preceded by significant investment in new technology, such as basement temperature-controlled fermentation tanks. It emerged fresh, acid- driven wines, which served a mass market. Only since the end of the 1990s, some winemakers strive to produce world-class wines.

The majority of the vineyards are in the regions of Paarl and Worcester, but also Malmesbury in the Swartland has significant plantings.

California

See also the main article viticulture in the United States.

Also in California (→ Viticulture in California ), the Chenin greater acreage held ( 9,489 acre in 2007) and he is here similar to that in South Africa largely used as an anonymous basis in everyday life blends pleasantly fresh white wines. In California, the species probably also serves cheaper " Chardonnay " to stretch and to provide them with acid. Only in northern regions can adopt a characteristic reminiscent of melons and musk taste the grape.

Australia and New Zealand

See also the main article viticulture in Australia and viticulture in New Zealand.

In Australia, the area under vines is 684 hectares. (2007) The Chenin Blanc is mainly blended wines in the blend partners Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon. Vineyards are found in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and in zones Swan Valley and Margaret River in Western Australia. The wine writer James Halliday describes the Chenins Australia as fruity wine without any varietal character. Only the wines from Western Australia show good approaches in the elaboration of a varietal.

In New Zealand, the stock in 2004 had fallen to less than 100 acres. Originally, the grape was used as a waste- partner of the Müller- Thurgau. However, some wines of the northern island could demonstrate the quality potential. As long as the commercial success of the varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay stops in New Zealand, hardly quality initiatives to improve the Chenin wines are to be expected.

South America

Both Argentina ( 3,030 acres, 2005) as well as Chile has large stocks. In general, stocks are heavily irrigated; the strong varietal character of the Chenin becomes blurred. This results kept simple, fresh wines in reliable high amount.

Ampelographic varietal characteristics

In the ampelography the habit is described as follows:

• The shoot tip is open. It is whitish light green hairy, with crimson trace. The yellow-green young leaves are hairy and slightly woolly bronze mottled ( Anthocyanflecken ).
• The medium-sized deep-green leaves ( see also the article sheet form) are roundish, five-lobed and sinuate moderately deep. The petiole is lyrenförmig open. Near the petiole, the leaf buds are reddish in color. However, this does not apply to all clones. The blade is serrated blunt. The teeth are set closely compared the vine. The leaf surface (also called lamina ) is vesicular coarse.
• The cone-shaped grape is usually shouldered, has one or two minor grape is medium in size and dichtbeerig. The roundish to oval berries are medium in size and of a golden yellow color. The shell of the berry is thin-skinned but very crisp.

The Chenin drives out early and is therefore sensitive to late spring frosts. However, He is distinguished with good maturity of the wood from a sufficiently good winter hardiness.

It is a wine grape variety structurally rather difficult, but it has a large mounting width as compared to other varieties. It is susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew, but also against gray mold. Chenin Blanc is aged about 12 to 15 days after Chasselas. It counts therefore internationally nor to the early ripening varieties.

Chenin Blanc is a variety of the noble vine (Vitis vinifera ). It has hermaphrodite flowers and is thus self- fruiting. When the wine-growing economic disadvantage is avoided, no return delivered to have male plants grow.

Synonyms

Because of old age, its widespread use and its versatility there are a variety of synonyms:

Anjou, Blamancep, Blanc d'Anjou Blanc d' Aunis Blanc emery, Bon blanc, Capbreton Blanc, Confort, Coue Fort, Cruchinet, Cugnette, Fehér Chenin, Francesco Blanc, Franche, Gout Fort, Luarskoe, Pineau d' Anjou, Pineau de Briollay, Pineau de la Loire Pineau de Savennieres, Pineau Gros, Pineau Gros de Vouvray, Pineau Nantais, Plant de Pretzel, Plant de Salces, Plant de Salles, Plant du Clair de Lune, Quefort, Rajoulin, Rouchalin, Rougelin, Steen, stone, Tete de Crabe, Vaalblaar stone and Verdurant.