Vouvray Sec (France)
Vouvray Sec is a dry white wine from Vouvray in the Loire Valley.
The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) uses almost exclusively Chenin Blanc grapes.
Typical Flavors
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Melon |
 Pineapple |
 Passion |
 Honey |
 Flowers |
 Minerals |
Ripe Apple, Pear, Pinapple, and Honey are typical Vouvray Sec flavors.
Hint of Flowers and Minerals.
Profile
Vouvray Sec is known for its high acidity:
| SUGAR | Dry | ||
| BODY | Light | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | High | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Aperitif |
 Salads |
 Vegetables |
 Asparagus |
 Olive Oil |
 Fish |
 Sushi |
 Seafood |
 Chicken |
 Ham |
 Soft Cheese |
 Chips |
Vouvray Sec pairs best with Vegetables, Fish, and Chicken.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Spring Vegetables. Asparagus.
Light Salads. Chicken Salad. Ham Salad.
Prawns. Oysters.
Seafood. Squid. Crab.
Seafood Pasta and Risotto.
Fisk Cakes. Fish Paté.
Smoked Salmon. Trout. Sushi.
Cheese:
Soft Cheese. Goat Cheese. Feta. Robiola.
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The Ideal Glass
A Tulip Shaped glass is the best choice for dry white wines.
It guides the wine to the center of your mouth, avoiding the sides, where acidity is less pleasant.
A smaller bowl also helps to serve smaller quantities, and keep the wine cold.
Remember to hold the glass by the stem!
About Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc was born and raised in Anjou in the Loire Valley in France, where it often is called "Pineau de la Loire".
Like Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc is very versatile, and today it is growing worldwide.
The grape has a high acidity like Sauvignon Blanc, but the wines come in all forms: dry, off-dry, sweet, and sparkling.
Chenin Blanc Styles
Chenin Blanc is a terroir-reflective grape with a rather neutral flavor profile.
Soil (terroir), climate, old vines, and winemaking technices can be much reflected in the wine.
In France, Chenin Blanc produces wines with high acidity, and flavors of Apple and Pear. In warmer climates, Chenin Blanc produces more tropical aromas like Guava and Pinapple.
The high acidity allows Chenin Blanc to produce a variety of wine types.
In Loire, early harvested grapes are used to create the sparkling Crémant de Loire.
Late-harvested Chenin Blanc, infected with noble rot, is used to produce dessert wines with well balanced aromas of Peach, Honey, and Marzipan.
Chenin Blanc in France
The Vouvray Region
Chenin Blanc is the dominant white grape in the Vouvray region in the Loire Valley. The region has its own terms to describe Chenin Blanc:
Methode Traditionelle – Sparkling Chenin Blanc.
Sec – Dry Chenin Blanc.
Tendre – Off-dry Chenin Blanc (perhaps the most popular style in France).
Moelleux – Sweet Chenin Blanc (dessert wine style).
The Anjou Region
Anjou is best known for sparkling Chenin Blanc (Anjou Mousseaux and Crémant de la Loire).
Côteaux du Layon
Sweet Chenin Blanc from Côteaux du Layon, made with noble rot, are amazing, and world famous (Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux).
The Montlouis Region
The Montlouis region produces high quality Vouvray style dry Chenin Blanc.
Chenin Blanc in Europe
France
Loire is the French wine region most closely associated with Chenin Blanc.
Chenin Blanc in the New World
South Africa
South Africa accounts for about 50% of the plantings of Chenin Blanc.
Chenin Blanc is also commonly found in USA, Australia, and New Zealand.