This week we explore a great chameleon of the wine world, Chenin Blanc. Much like Riesling, this grape has high acidity and can be deliciously balanced in styles ranging from bone dry & lean to lusciously sweet. Moreover, this grape grows well in a wide variety of soils, and can be delicious produced in stainless steel or oak barrel. And of course, you can make insanely delicious sparkling wines from Chenin Blanc — with delicious roundness and notes of honey. Crémant de Loire makes a world class Brunch Bubble option, but don't tell Prosecco we told you!

We decided today was too soon to end a good thing, so our wine sale has been extended through Sunday, September 17th.

Vouvray is a versatile region, producing dry, off dry, sweet, and sparkling styles of Chenin. Vouvray's neighbor Montlouis-sur-Loir produces a similar range of wines often at a greater value because of their relative obscurity. Savennières, in Anjou-Saumur, produces breathtaking Chenin Blanc that is powerful, dry, and ageworthy. Anjou produces the iconic dessert wine Quarts de Chaume, a Grand Cru appellation producing sweet wines made via botrytis or "noble rot". One of our favorite Chenin Blancs is undoubtedly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, which is a Monopole AOC (a wine region controlled by a single winery). Coulée de Serrant is considered one of the greatest dry white wines of France, coming from a small 7 hectares that have remained under vine since 1130! And when it comes to Crémant, we just can't get enough of Vignoble Brisebarre Vouvray Brut. This wine is made by Philippe Brisebarre using "Agriculture Raisonée" (low-impact farming practices) and has a soft and creamy texture with notes of honey, nuts, and spice.

South Africa is considered the second home of Chenin Blanc. With nearly 400 years of history, South Africa produces some of the New World's most compelling Chenin, or "Steen" as it is regionally called. A lot of the Steen grown in South Africa goes into the production of Brandy. High quality, dry white wines are produced in the regions of Stellenbosch, Swartland, and the Coastal Region. One of our absolute favorite Steen's is the Kumusha Chenin Blanc, made in the dry-farmed vineyards of Breedekloof Valley by winemaker Tinashe Nyumudoka. Tinashe is a Zimbabwe native who moved to South Africa for better economic prospects. He went from server, to Sommelier, to winemaker! Eben Sadie's Skurfberg Chenin Blanc is one of the most exciting wines coming out of South Africa. This single block Chenin is mineral driven, with notes of beeswax, citrus and pine. The wine is aged in large wooden foudres, and the mouthfeel is rich, grippy, and textured.

Delectable domestic Chenin Blancs can be found if you know the right places to look! The relative rarity comes, of course, from Chardonnay commanding much higher prices. We always keep a collection of tasty American Chenin Blanc in our shop because we're proud of what our country can do with this great grape! Clarksburg and Central Valley are where you'll most commonly find domestic Chenin Blanc produced in California, but you'll find it scattered throughout the state — as well as in Oregon and Washington. Three by Wade Chenin Blanc is a textural delight with notes of zesty lemon and tropical fruits. This winery is owned by Dwayne Wade, an NBA star and lover of Napa Valley wines. Ltd+ Chenin Blanc is one of our favorite Oregon selections, a low intervention wine made by Chad & Bree of Constant Crush. This wine is grown on ancient seafloor sedimentary soils cooled by winds of the Van Duzer Corridor.