Vouvray Tendre (France)
Vouvray Tendre is an off-dry white wine from Vouvray in the Loire Valley.
The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) uses almost exclusively Chenin Blanc grapes.
Vouvray Tendre Flavors
Ripe Fruit, Peach, Mandarin, Melon, and Passion Fruit are typical Vouvray Tendre flavors.
With Honey and Floral notes (Jasmine), and sometimes some sugar like Marzipan.
 Ripe Apple |
 Ripe Pear |
 Peach |
 Mandarin |
 Melon |
 Passion |
 Honey |
 Jasmine |
Vouvray Tendre Profile
Vouvray Tendre is a mildly acidic, white wine, much like Gewürztraminer.
| SUGAR: | Off - Dry |
| BODY: | Medium - High |
| FRUIT: | Medium |
| ACIDITY: | Medium - Low |
| ALCOHOL: | 13% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 6-8°C (43-46°F) |
Vouvray Tendre Food Pairing
Vouvray Tendre matches spicy food as well as sweet and sour food.
It is especially great with Curry Dishes.
 Aperitif |
 Ham |
 Pasta |
 Rice |
 Creamy Fish |
 Sushi |
 Chicken |
 Chili |
Excellent Pairings
Spicy Food. Indian. Thai.
Chicken Curry.
Chinese. Vietnamese.
Chinese Sweet and Sour.
Creamy Fish.
Sweet Meat.
Honey Glazed Ham.
Apples. Foie Gras.
Apple-based Desserts.
Cheeses
Camembert.
French Spesialities
Foie Gras and Chicken Liver with Apple Chutney.
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.
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 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.