The white grape variety originates from France. There are 80 synonyms that testify to the vine's great age and worldwide distribution. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Anjou, Blanc d'Anjou, Blanc d'Aunis, Blanc Emery, Bon Blanc, Canton, Capbreton Blanc, Chenin, Confort, Cugnette, Cruchinet, Cugnette, Franc Blanc, Gamay Blanc, Gros Chenin, Gros Pineau, Gros Pineau de Vouvray, Mançais Blanc, Pineau Blanc, Pineau d'Anjou, Pineau de Briollay, Pineau de la Loire, Pineau de Savennières, Pineau de Vouvray, Pineau Vert, Pinot de la Loire, Pinot Gros de Vouvray, Plant d'Anjou, Plant de Breze, Plant de Clair de Lune, Plant de Maille, Plant de Salces, Que Fort, Rajoulain, Ronchalin, Rouchalin, Rouchelin, Rouchelein, Rougelin, Rouxalin, Verdurant (France); Chenin Bijeli (Croatia); Chenin Beli (Slovenia); Agudelo, Agudillo, Blanco Legítimo (Spain); Steen, Vaalblaar Stein (South Africa); Fehér Chenin (Hungary); White Pinot (USA). It must not be confused with the two varieties Albillo Real or Verdelho, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities.
It is not a colour mutation of the red variety Pineau d'Aunis (Chenin Noir). According to DNA analyses last carried out in 2018, it originates from a presumably natural...
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)