For white wine drinkers, Chenin Blanc is your new best friend. Chenin Blanc originally hails from France's famed Loire Valley. In the 1960's, Chenin Blanc gained huge popularity in North America as a sweet white wine. It fell from grace when winemakers, to keep up with demand began adding sugar to the wine, in a method known as chaptalization. Chenin Blanc gained a reputation as a cheap sweet wine which took decades to shake off. In the 1970's, Chenin Blanc found a new home in South Africa where it became a workhorse grape used primarily in white blends to add acidity.
Today, Chenin Blanc has returned to it's rightful glory. Chenin Blanc can be difficult to grow as it is slow to ripen and is both acidic and high in sugar. It is also one of the world's most versatile grape varietals, which can produce wines ranging from bone dry to sweet nobility. Chenin Blanc, as a single varietal has become the darling of South Africa and reclaimed it's throne as one of France's best white wines. Excitedly, Chenin Blanc is also grown in small lots in the Okanagan where it has gained a cult following by both wine critics and enthusiasts. Discover your new summer white wine, with an affordable Chenin Blanc from British Columbia.
While recognized for their award-winning flagship wines, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Quails Gate Winery is also home to some of Canada's oldest Chenin Blanc vines. Quails Gate Winery has been producing Chenin Blanc as a single varietal since 1997. Quails Gate's Chenin Blanc has the distinct honor of being served to Heads of State including Barack Obama as well as William and Kate, the future King and Queen of England. With under 5000 cases made of the current 2017 vintage, Quails Gate Chenin Blanc offers outstanding value at $17.00.
Quails Gate 2017 Chenin Blanc ($17.00)
Available at select BC Liquor Stores and Winery Direct.
"Pale yellow in the glass, honeysuckle, grass, citrus, pear and melon mingle together on the nose. The palate is dry with a complex richness in the mouthfeel, poised with balanced lime zest acidity, beautiful weight and mid-palate texture. This leads you to the distinctive stony mineral varietal trait."
Road 13 Vineyards was one of Canada's first wineries to embrace Chenin Blanc with vines dating back to 1968. Both their "Old Vines Chenin Blanc" and sparkling version made from the original vines have achieved cult status, impressing critics and wooing wine enthusiasts. Road 13's newest addition to the Chenin Blanc portofolio "Chip off the Old Block" comes from cuttings from the original 1968 vines planted in 2011 and is an easy and refreshing summer sipper.
Road 13 Vineyards 2016 Chip off the Old Block Chenin Blanc ($20.00) Winery Direct.
"The colour is pale straw to light gold and has an interesting nose made up of tropical fruits (guava and papaya) in addition to flavours of quince, golden delicious apples and white peaches. These aromas carry nicely onto the medium-bodied palate where they are joined by beautiful notes of white flowers and citrus."
Road 13 Vineyards 2011 Sparkling Chenin Blanc ($40.00) Wine Club Members and Winery Direct.
Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Series
In 1994, Inniskillin established an estate winery in the Okanagan wanting to reflect the region's unqiue terroir. Winemaker Sandor Mayer, was given the freedom under the Discovery Series to showcase small lot wines reflecting unexplored varieties in the Okanagan Valley. Chenin Blanc was one of the chosen varietals selected by Sandor Mayer who is now recognized as one of the Okanagan's great winemakers. Chenin Blanc has proven an award-winning small-lot wine for Inniskillin. Excitedly their just released 2016 Chenin Blanc, produced by winemaker Derek Kotnkanen, received a gold medal at at the 2017 British Columbia Best of Varietal Awards.
Inskillin Discovery Series Okanagan Chenin Blanc 2016 ($16.99)
"Intense honey and dried fruit aromas, which are
complemented by the supple flavours of tropical fruit. It's crisp acidity creates a beautifully balanced and well rounded wine."
