It’s hard not to love Chenin Blanc. It can be produced in a kaleidoscope of styles. From fresh, fruity and floral to rich, complex and honeyed with vibrant acidity. It’s like a chameleon that takes on a different character showing different winemaking styles and area of origin.
Friday night was all about Nuts For Chenin Blanc in association with Worcester Wine and Olive Route and BC Wines hosting the nutty #nutsforcheninblanc event. Andre Swiegers captivated everyone with his songs and sweet sounds from his guitar. It was a fun “nutty” and memorable night. What can be better than Chenin Blanc paired with nuts?
I am not talking of throwing different kinds of nuts in a bowl. Wine Cellars from Worcester showcased their amazing Chenin Blancs, closing the week off celebrating #CheninBlanc and #DrinkCheninDay on a high note. Each wine cellar really went out of their way and let their creativity go wild with delicious mystery pairings using nuts.
Imagine succulent Pork Belly with a crispy crackling in a Thai-style sauce or Cream Cheese rolled and coated with dukka and nuts. Not to mention the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Almond Roca. Who can say no to Cashew, Coconut and Lime Blondies? Irresistible bites of caramelised Pecan Nut Tarts and pockets of crispy Phyllo pastry deliciousness filled with Gouda and topped with Macadamia nuts. It was hard to choose a favourite as everything was deliciously prepared and paired perfectly together.
BC Chenin Blanc 2022 is a light and fruity wine. The grapes of this Chenin Blanc have been managed with great care in both the vineyards and the winery to produce a fresh wine with aromatic guava and tropical flavours. Just as vibrant as the beautiful label on the bottle itself.
Leyland Single Vineyard Steen 2020 from De Wet Cellar presents itself with a pale straw in colour with a greenish hue. It’s vibrant and fruity, yet fuller and intense on the palate, matured in selected oak for a beautiful mouthfeel and finish. This single vineyard Chenin Blanc gets its name from the Leyland truck on the Welgeluksalig farm, which has been delivering these grapes for over 50 years and still continues to do so. It has also secured a 4.5 star rating in the 2022 Platter Wine Guide.
Newly released Leipzig Chenin Blanc 2020 shows delicate notes of lime and honey blossom and followed by tropical flavours. It spent 11 months in small oak barrels from different cooperages before undergoing further bottle ageing. Made from grapes that were sourced from dry land vineyards to produce concentrated flavours.
Stettyn Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2021 is a clear and bright sunshine wine, with charming aromas of white pear, blossoms, and tropical fruit. A beautiful balanced wine with crips acidity. The vines are grown in a single location.
Nuy Chenin Blanc 2022 shows vibrant fruit salad flavours. Combination of peaches and guava framed by a lifting acidity and a crisp refreshing finish.
The 2022 vintage of Aan De Doorns Chenin Blanc is a fresh and fruity wine with delicious apple and floral notes. Aan De Doorns is Dutch for ‘at the thorns’ and has one of the largest Wine Cellars in the Worcester region.
The Winemaker’s Selection Chenin Blanc 2021 from Balance Wines is fruity and supported by a vibrant mouthfeel of guava, passionfruit and hints of citrus.
Alvi’s Drift’s Icon range showcases the best of their harvest. Barrel-fermented, full-bodied wines of outstanding character and complexity. The Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2019 is intense on the nose and you pick up nectarines and peach notes. Elegant, rich and velvety, this wine boasts a full and complex palate, with ripe fruit characters and a beautiful lingering finish.
Limited Edition Cilmor Chenin Blanc 2021 is a lightly wooded wine with an elegant nose of peach, flowers and perfume together with dried apricot, apple and pear on the nose. Absolutely divine and just pleasing to the palate.
A superb event that was completely #nutsforchenin and a huge success highlighting the diversity and versatile style of Chenins within the Worcester area. It was an absolute joy tasting all the creative nutty delights and paired it with wonderful Worcester Chenin Blancs.
Swirl and Spice would like to say thank you to BC Wines and Worcester Wine and Olive Wine Route for this wonderful invitation. This event in a nutshell was nothing but amazing!
Can’t wait to visit Worcester again and looking forward to the next event!
Categories: Worcester
