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    Chenin Blanc

    Vitis vinifera L.

    The white grape of Anjou and Vouvray, and the most planted variety in South Africa.

    VIVC
    № 25271
    Berry skin
    white (blanc)1
    Origin
    France1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    761
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 3cluster
    parentSavagnin (Traminer)
    parentunknown
    Chenin Blanc

    confirmed by DNA markers (VIVC)

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (3 lobes).

    Where Chenin Blanc comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)France

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    From Anjou

    Chenin comes from the Loire Valley, probably from Anjou.2 VIVC records Savagnin (Traminer) as one parent confirmed by DNA markers; the other is unknown.1

    In France it covered 16,594 hectares in 1958 and 10,085 hectares in 2018.2 It is particularly sensitive to grey rot, powdery mildew and trunk diseases.2

    Vouvray and South Africa

    In the Vouvray appellation Chenin is the principal variety, with Orbois allowed as an accessory grape on at most 5% of the vineyard.3 Vouvray may be still, sparkling or pétillant, always white.3 The plateau rests on soft Turonian chalk known as tuffeau.3

    In South Africa Chenin Blanc is in first place, on 15% of the vineyard area, or about 19,000 hectares in the OIV's 2017 survey.4

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Steen, Pineau De La Loire, Gros Pineau, Blanc D'Anjou, Chenin.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 30,859 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 27 of 1497 varieties in the database.5

    The largest area is in South Africa: 16,192 ha (52% of the world total), across 19 countries.5

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area shrank by 32%.5

    1. South Africa16,192 ha
    2. France10,489 ha
    3. Argentina1,592 ha
    4. the United States1,547 ha
    5. Australia411 ha
    6. Mexico344 ha
    7. Spain106 ha
    8. Ethiopia54 ha
    9. Chile40 ha
    10. New Zealand20 ha
    11. Thailand16 ha
    12. Canada15 ha

    Area, 2023

    45,60735,66132,26130,8592000201020162023

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport no. 2527. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (JKI), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Chenin B. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Vouvray » (modification, CNAOV session of 18 June 2026). INAO, 2026. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13