At the largest wine competition in the world in London this week, the Chenin blanc, a white wine grape variety from the Loire region in France, won the highest percentage of awards with 92 per cent of wines entered going home with a medal.
Of the 136 bottles of Chenin blanc submitted at the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards this week, 125 got a nod from judges, a performance that wine expert Jim Budd attributes to the particularly good growing conditions of 2010.
The next most successful grape variety was Semillon, which saw 83 per cent of its entries win medals. The most popular white wine among American consumers, meanwhile, is Chardonnay, while Brits favor Pinot grigio.
What makes Chenin blanc distinct, Budd explains, is that its made in all sorts of styles, he said. That is, they can range from dry to sweet. The sweeter the Chenin blanc, the richer the fruit with aromas like citrus, apricots, peach, and honey.
Unlike a chardonnay, this white wine is also highly acidic, said Budd, also the regional Decanter chair for the Loire region.
The Chenin blancs that did well at the Decanter awards, meanwhile, were mostly the sweeter wines, Budd said, which go well with rich foods like cheese and cream sauces.
In addition to cutting the creaminess and saltiness of blue cheese with its high acidity, for instance, the richness of the fruit is also able to stand up to its bold, pungent flavor profile and does the same for chicken or pheasant dishes in cream sauces.
Budd also suggests sipping dryer Chenin blancs as an aperitif or pairing it with seafood dishes like grilled fish, and trying the sweeter range with rich foods like foie gras, cheese, cream-based dishes and fruit desserts.
For full results of the Decanter World Wine Awards, visit http://www.decanter.com/dwwa. AFP/Relaxnews
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