07/16/07 Chenin Blanc

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. On today's program I want to encourage you to reacquaint yourself with the wine grape Chenin Blanc. The grape variety Chenin Blanc is one that I always come around to in the summer. It is the grape used to make the French wine Vouvray. As with many French wines, Vouvray is the name for the place the wine comes from and the place Chenin Blanc is grown to make that wine. Here in my home state of Washington we make Chenin Blanc in various styles. My favorites are the ones that are sort of fruit forward but not cloying sweet or the very dry style that has lots of perfume in the nose. I am a fan of the consistently delicious Kiona Vineyards Chenin Blanc and Hogue Cellars makes two very different styles one is barrel fermented and is quite easy to drink. These wines are often overlooked by wine snobs, but I am here to tell you that with chilled prawns or a simple cold cut dinner or lunch they are a delight. At a recent food and wine pairing it proved a very good wine to accompany a chicken breast with a blue cheese sauce. Chenin Blanc is reasonably priced and in the case of those I mentioned down right inexpensive. Before the summer is over try a Chenin Blanc - ask your wine merchant for other recommendations and enjoy a wine that you may not normally seek out. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.