Chenin
The chenin , also called chenin white , is a white Cépage of Vigne.
Originating in the Anjou where it is attested as of the century, it would have been obtained, by selection, starting from the black Chenin. In the following centuries, it extends to the Touraine where it will obtain its current name, probably Chenin Mount. The Larousse Universel also indicates another possible etymology: old French chenin meaning grapes of the dogs (this last term is also one of the popular names indicating toxic bays of the Troène).
With, Rabelais which, in good tourangeau, speaks abundantly about the white wines of Anjou, quotes the chenin once (Gargantua, chapter XXV): This faict, and bergiers and bergieres feirent expensive lye avecques these fouaces and beaulx grapes, and are rigollerent together with the sound of beautiful the bouzine, mocquans of these beaulx glorious fouaciers, which swages found male opposition by faulte to estre seignez themselves of the good hand in the morning, and with large grapes chenins estuverent the legs of Forgier mignonnement, so that it feut tantost guery.
After the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, some Huguenots found refuge in South Africa. They carried in their luggage this type of vine, and planted it in this area of the world. Today, the surface of chenin cultivated in South Africa is the double of that of the Loire. The chenin was also imported in Australia as of the XIX century.
Nowadays, it is well represented in the new wine countries : Argentinian, Chile, California, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. For example, in South Africa, with 30% of the vineyard, it one of type of vines is the most cultivated, under the name of steen . In France, it is especially present in its area of origin, the the Loire Valley from which it is one of the white type of vines most characteristic. It is planted in this area, with the Western limits of Maine and the Loire until Touraine, and covers a good number of names. It is also called white Pineau of the Loire (see the synonyms below) in Touraine. One also finds it in South-west and Languedoc where it is classified recently “ type of vine recommended ”. It returns in the assembly of the Blanquette of Limoux up to 10% and in the Creaming of Limoux up to 40%.
It gives white wines in Touraine and Anjou. The wines can be dry (Jasnières, Savennières, Vouvray, Montlouis, Anjou, Saumur,…) or marrowy even liqueur-like over certain years or according to the sorting of the vine growers (Bonnezeaux, Slopes of the Tailboard, Slopes of Aubance, Jasnières, Quarters of Thatch, Savennières, Vouvray, Montlouis…). It is also used for the production of effervescent wines (Creaming of the Loire, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Saumur, Vouvray).
The white chenin, or chenin , is the only type of vine authorized for the production of Montlouis, Jasnières, Savennières, Bonnezeaux, Coteaux of the Tailboard, Coteaux of Aubance and Quarts of Thatch.
Its reputation is not as noble as other white type of vines. And yet, much of professionals estimate that it can, if it is well worked, produce high-class wines. This low esteem comes can be one period when many vine growers vendangaient not very ripe grapes, therefore acid, green. They made up this deficit while chaptalizing (cf Chaptalisation), then while suffering to avoid a second departure of fermentation out of bottle.
Synonyms
The chenin is known under the names of Anjou, white d´Aunis, capbreton white (France, Landes), comfort, coué extremely, cruchinet (France, south-west), cugnette, fehér Chenin, frank Blanc, frank, white Gamet (France, Aveyron), strong taste, luarskoe, pineau d´Anjou, pineau of Briollay, pineau of the Loire, pineau of Savennières, pineau Gros, pineau Gros of Vouvray, pineau Nantais, seedling of Brézé (with the Middle Ages, today that indicates the Romorantin rather), seedling of Salces, seedling of Rooms, seedling of the Moonlight, quefort (New Zealand), rajoulin, rouchalin, rougelin, steen (South Africa), stein, head of Crab, vaalblaar Stein and verdurant.
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