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Glite Dictionary
Chenin blanc

Chenin blanc

1 7.4
A white grape used to make wine, often grown in France and California
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɛnɪn blɑŋk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Chenin blanc
  • While the details of the Chenin Blanc grape's typical nature come through distinctly,
  • dry Chenin blanc

Examples

  • Excellent; the Chenin Blanc rates.

    Blog text (12)

  • Chenin blanc is known for its bright acidity and floral aromas, making it a popular choice for white wine lovers.

  • Many wine enthusiasts enjoy pairing Chenin blanc with seafood dishes due to its refreshing taste.

  • The 2019 Chenin blanc from California showcases flavors of green apple and honey, appealing to a wide range of palates.

Surface Forms

Chenin blanc singular
Chenin blancs plural

Morphology

Chenin + blanc

The term is a French proper-name for a wine grape variety; the constituent 'blanc' (= white) gives a partial, language-specific clue that this is a 'white' variety, but 'Chenin' is a proper name and does not signal 'grape' or 'wine' to learners. Because understanding the full meaning requires cultural/lexical knowledge beyond the literal parts, the expression is only partially predictable from its constituents.

Etymology

Chenin blanc may come from a family called Chenin in the Loire Valley who grew this grape long ago, and blanc is the French word for 'white'. So the image of the Chenin family looking after pale grapes helps explain why the name now means the white grape and the wines made from it.