This grape is found in the Loire Valley of France, where it is the grape responsible for the great wines of Vouvray. There it can be found in a wide array of styles, from slightly dry to dessert sweet. There are many storied producers here, and slightly down the river you will find the wines of the Coteau du Layon, some of the most sought-after examples of sweet wines in the world. In South Africa, the wine is usually made in a lighter, drier style, and sometimes called by the synonym “Steen”. It has failed to rise to the heights seen in these select places elsewhere, while the best examples of Loire Valley Chenin Blanc can fetch hundreds of dollars on a restaurant wine list. A caveat to this are the wines of Sadie family and anything that Eben Sadie is associated with. They are that good (and he is that good), and the producers that are taking Chenin Blanc and treating in the way Sadie does are seeing fantastic results.