Chenin Blanc is a wine grape traditionally used to make white wine. Recently a winemaker has decided to use the grapes to make a bottle of red instead!
The main difference between white and red Chenin Blanc wines is that red wines are made with the grape’s skins, while white wines are not. It gives the red wines their darker color. Also, it gives red wines their characteristic fuller-bodied taste compared to those lighter, crisper white wines.
Red Chenin Blanc wines typically have around 12% alcohol by volume, although some can have 15%.
“Bland” has a good reputation for its red Chenin Blanc wines. They use traditional winemaking techniques to produce a full-bodied, rich-flavored wine perfect for pairing with red meat, fried foods, or even chocolate.
What Does Red Chenin Blanc Taste Like?
Red Chenin Blanc can be described as having strong dark fruit flavors such as plum, blackberry, and blueberry. It also has characteristics of oak, peppers, stone, and minerals.
Although this wine is commonly made in a more “modern” style, Red Chenin from Stellenbosch has strict grapes. It must be harvested at night when temperatures are cool and then pressed within three hours of harvesting to ensure that the grapes retain their color and flavor.
The red wines produced from these grapes can range from being very rich and full-bodied to very delicate, depending on how long the grape juice ferments with the skins, determining color intensity.
Best Examples of Red Chenin Blanc
Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre Meritage 2006 – Dark berry and a bit of loam nose, dark burgundy toned, blueberries and blackberries. Midpalate without distracting sweetness. Silky smooth finish with drying tannins. Fruity and delicious. Easy drinking!
Domaine Olga Raffault Les Peuilles Chinon 2016 – Peppery on the palate with dry and powdery tannins. Black fruits without being aggressive. Blueberry, blackberry, earthy, minerals with balanced acidity. Decanter the wine for about an hour before drinking!
Domaine du Collier La Charpentrie Saumur Rouge 2015 – A high end red wine from France. Minerals and tobacco right out of the gate followed by citrus and clove. Well balanced with a medium finish. Let the wine sit for about an hour after opening before you get into it.
Whiplash Red 2018 – Warm and comforting. Notes of berries and dark cherries with a bit of spice. Smooth and sweet. Easy drinking. Great value for the price.
14 Hands Run Wild 2018 – Notes of raspberry, sweet dark cherry, but with an earthy palette. This is a great red wine if you like fruit-forward, low tannin, and a semi-sweet flavor. Definitely more on the dry side.
What Food Pairs with Red Chenin Blanc?
Red Chenin Blanc is best paired with a nice, meaty lasagna or a hearty pasta dish. It can also pair well with pizza and other spicy foods.
If you want to taste a classic example of Chenin Blanc, look for a bottle of Bland. A winery in South Africa’s picturesque Elgin Valley has been producing this wine since 1880. Their red is consistently described as very fruity and full-bodied, with some people even calling it velvety.
Is Red Chenin Blanc Sweet or Dry?
Red Chenin Blanc is not considered to be either sweet or dry. Rather, it falls somewhere in the middle, with some sweetness but without ever becoming cloying. The wine typically averages 9–12% alcohol content, putting it on the spicier side. This high alcohol level also makes this wine very rich and full-bodied!
If you are looking for an alternative to Sauvignon, give Red Chenin Blanc a try. It pairs well with spicy foods and is sure to leave your tongue tingling due to its high acidity.
How is Red Chenin Blanc Made?
Red Chenin Blanc is made almost the same way as white, except it must first be fermented on the skins for several hours before pressing. It allows the tannins to develop, giving this wine body and structure.
The wine is then aged in oak barrels for either one year or three years. The longer it ages, the deeper its color will be and the denser it will become.
Depending on the style of winemaking chosen, Red Chenin Blanc can range from being very light to medium-bodied with some tannins present.
These tannins give this wine its body, which many people enjoy. However, if you like less tannin presence in your wines, look for red Chenin Blancs that have been produced using a basket press or a juice transfer method not to extract too many of these types of compounds from the grape skins.
The History of Red Chenin Blanc
History plays a large part for those wondering what made this wine so popular as it was mass-marketed by KWV during the 1980s and 90s. This wine has been produced for centuries in the Western Cape area of South Africa, more recently coming from the heart of South Africa’s wine-producing region, Swartland.
The grape variety Chenin Blanc is known for adapting well to different soils and climates. Thus, you can find it throughout the world in California, Chile, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia, and even China. It has been recorded that this grape was brought back from Brazil by French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution.
These refugees brought with them new vines that could flourish in the Cape region during the 17th century. This area is now recognized as being one of the fastest-growing regions. The wine is named after a large white rock formation—”Klein Kliphis,” or “little cliffs,” which is near the banks of the Eerste River, located in South Africa’s fertile Swartland region.