Chenin Blanc

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Dry Creek Vineyard extends praise to its original source of inspiration in the small French village of Vouvray in the Loire Valley.  It was in Vouvray, during one of Dave’s early trips that his love affair with Chenin Blanc began.  It was also during this trip that Dave was introduced to Domaine Baumard in Rochefort sur Loire.  This world famous Chenin Blanc producer continues to provide worthy inspiration for our own Chenin Blanc.

 A Dry Loire-Style Wine

Chenin Blanc is serious business at Dry Creek Vineyard. Because it lacks the mystique of Burgundy or Bordeaux, other producers tend to overlook this varietal. But Chenin Blanc is never a stepchild at Dry Creek Vineyard. Here this varietal receives the same level of meticulous care as our higher priced bottlings.

Dry Creek Vineyard produces the most highly awarded Chenin Blanc in the nation. Over the past several vintages, this wine has earned more than 30 Gold Medals, plus scores of Silver and Bronze Medals. Indeed, a single recent vintage racked up a total of seven top awards--including Best Varietal of Region and Double Gold at the California State Fair, plus a Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in London, England.

Much of our success with Chenin Blanc is due to exceptional fruit quality from Clarksburg, a relatively unknown grape-producing region in California's Sacramento Delta. Both Dry Chenin Blanc and Fumé Blanc offer perfect antidotes to Chardonnay.  Like the most charming Loire Valley wines, both are crisp and refreshing as well as extraordinarily versatile.  Excellent as an aperitif, our Chenin Blanc is internationally recognized as one of the best wines to pair with oysters on the half shell.