Why Chenin Blanc Overdelivers as a House White Wine
Three widely available bottles for $13 and under
A friend recently messaged me: “I’m looking for a good house white for under $15. Is that even possible?”
My answer: Yes! Chenin Blanc wines overdeliver at that price point.
I’m a big fan of Secateurs Chenin Blanc, which is an exceptional value at around $13. The wine is super aromatic (honeysuckle + pineapple + lemon zest). Taking a sip, it’s dry, with refreshing acidity balanced out by some weight, and has lovely lingering flavors (golden apple + tangerine).
The wine is made by Adi Badenhorst of A.A. Badenhorst, a minimalist winemaker who farms old bush vines organically in the Swartland area of South Africa. Secateurs refers to the small pruning shears used to prune the vines. The wines are made by fermenting whole grape clusters, using native yeasts, in neutral casks.
But this isn’t the only Chenin on the block! There are many excellent values.
Here’s what to know:
Chenin Blanc hails originally from the Loire Valley of France, where a huge range of styles are made, from lean and minerally to rich and unctuous. The grape is used in still and sparkling wines, and blended with other grapes.
As a wine, Chenin Blanc is super versatile, appealing to fans of crisp Sauvignon Blancs or richer Chardonnays, and everyone in between. It is always aromatic with lively acidity, and can range from bone-dry to sweet, and lighter bodied to full bodied, depending on the production techniques used.
It pairs well with a wide range of dishes — from a cheese plate to roasted vegetables to braised chicken. I recently had the Secateurs Chenin with teriyaki chicken (that pineapple note makes for an amazing pairing!) and miso-rice vinegar coleslaw, and it was delicious.
If you find a bottle that says “late harvest” or see the term “off dry” on the back label, it’s going to be sweet. Bottles labeled Vouvray (an area in the Loire) also tend to be sweet. But these tend to be pricier wines.
Chenin Blancs at the $15 and under price point are mostly dry, so you can feel good about grabbing one off the shelf and toting it home to go with dinner.
More bottles to try:
Fairvalley Chenin Blanc ($12): This is a great value, and supports a worthy initiative. The Fairvalley winery in South Africa was established by Fairvalley Farm Workers Association. It’s a black-owned collective of 60-plus member families that collaboratively produce Fairtrade-certified wines. Delicious Chenin that’s fruit forward (pear + melon + pineapple) and easy-drinking.
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier ($13): This California wine is a massive crowd pleaser. I first tried it a decade ago as a by-the-glass selection at Bouchon Bakery and have been recommending it as a go-to house wine ever since. Crisp and textured with vivid fruit and florals (white jasmine + white peach + pear + grapefruit).