Wine with Leslie Williams: The lowdown on noble Chenin Blanc

Fri, 25 Sep, 2020 - 06:00

Leslie Williams has been the Irish Examiner's wine columnist since 2012 and has been reviewing restaurants since 2015.

This week I want to try to sell you on Chenin Blanc, a grape variety you have probably heard of, but most likely rarely buy or choose in a restaurant.

Chenin Blanc is native to the Loire Valley and has been grown there at least since the 15th Century - DNA analysis indicates it is an offspring of Savagnin, a sibling to Sauvignon Blanc and an aunt of Cabernet Sauvignon; so it is just that it is considered a ‘noble’ grape variety.