Welcome to Wine 102, a deeper dive into some of the less common varietals you see on store shelves or restaurant wine lists.  Following our lead off with Pinot Gris is Chenin Blanc.  Similar to Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc is a tale of two vines. One a workhorse, producing huge volumes of fruit for inexpensive quaffing wine and other uses, the other of an undeniably age worthy white, laced with dazzling acidity and balanced sweetness.  While the later is only truly found in the Loire of France, Chenin also produces dependable wines featuring high acidity, which have the potential to deliver plenty of flavors of apple, honey, and minerality.

The Loire Valley of France is the spiritual home of Chenin Blanc, and contains some of the best known appellations for the grape, include Savennieres, Vouvray, and Anjou.  These regions in the Loire tend to be the truest to the character of Chenin Blanc with smaller yields.  Outside of the Loire, Chenin is frequently planted in all sorts of places, but the two to know are California and South Africa.  While California produces easy going, fruit forward wines, South Africa tends to be more into light, zippy wines that focus on the acidity.  Both have there merits, but in general, South Africa has a stronger reputation.

Quick Facts on Chenin Blanc:

Color: White
Style: Dry or Sweet (Loire, France)
Body:  Light when dry, can be heavier with sugar
General Characteristics:  High Acidity, France: Honey, Apple, Minerality / South Africa: Minerality, Citrus, Honey, Floral
Notable Regions:  Loire (France), South Africa, California

Similar to the change to go green Santa Rita Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Releaf Chenin Blanc offers a chance at sustainability.  While sustainable farming practices are definitely worth implementing to help keep the planet healthy, they still need to make a sustainable wine. So does Releaf Chenin Blanc 2014 manage to be both a good representation of Chenin Blanc and a sustainable wine?

Sight:  Moderate straw colored, more toward gold, but firmly in the lighter end of the spectrum.

Smell:  Papaya and guava jump up, bright melon involved with lots of citrus.   Pineapple and floral elements are pleasant too.  Hints of green peppercorn give it a hit of spice, but it’s obviously bright and not sweet from the nose.

Sip:  Bright, with just a touch of salinity to lead.    There is no sweetness, and it creates an odd sensation with the pineapple, papaya, and lemon.  A hint of stone fruit, like peaches joins in.  The light body is refreshing, and the salinity carries through.

Savor: The ending is brief, with elements of papaya and peach.

Releaf Chenin Blanc is tropical and taut.  The nose is crisp with lots of tropical elements, and yields some of the acidity secrets of the taste.  The brightness keeps it refreshing, and the salinity gives it an interesting character.   This salinity could help it move forward as a great partner for food, especially tropical shellfish dishes.  If you happen to like Sauvignon Blanc or Friuli Pinot Grigio, then Releaf Chenin Blanc is worth a try.

Verdict:  Bright, Tropical Fruit, Salinity, Light Bodied
Price: $8.99
Wellington, South Africa