Chenin

Chenin B

Name of the variety in France Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Chenin

Origin

This variety is originally from the Loire Valley and seemingly from Anjou.

Synonyms

Recognised alternative names that may be used to identify the propagation material of the variety in France or in other member countries of the European Union.

In Bulagria, Chenin is officially designated as "Shanin". This synonym is officially recognized in France regarding plant propagation material.

Legal information This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the <a href="/en/reglementation">"Legislation"</a>menu).

This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the <a href="/en/reglementation">"Legislation"</a>menu).

In France, Chenin is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

Use

This information indicates the normal and statutory use for the grapes.

Wine grape variety.

Evolution of cultivated areas in France

The figures provided are taken from vineyard land registers (IVCC, ONIVIT, ONIVINS), general agricultural censuses (SCEES-INSEE) and the current computerised vineyard register (DGDDI, FAM).<br>
Regional vine planting data is available on the following site: <a href="https://visionet.franceagrimer.fr/Pages/DonneesInteractivesDocs.aspx?sousmenu=observatoire%20de%20la%20viticulture" target="">visionet</a>.

	1958	1968	1979	1988	1998	2008	2018
ha	16594	14199	9552	9054	10042	9777	10085

Descriptive elements

<p>Only the principal ampelographic elements enabling the varieties to be characterised and identified are provided. They are presented according to the descriptor code recognised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Community Plant Variety Office (OCVV) and Bioversity International (for more information, see the <a href="/en/vocabulaire">"Ampelographic glossary"</a> menu).<br>
The photographs of leaves and grapes were taken in natural conditions, on the vine, in very similar situations in terms of growing conditions (sandy soil, Mediterranean coast):</p>
<ul>
<li>Domaine de l'Espiguette (IFV), Le Grau du Roi (Gard),</li>
<li>Domaine de Vassal (INRAE), Marseillan (Hérault),</li>
<li>La Gaillarde Campus (Institut Agro | Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier (Hérault).</li>
</ul>
<p>Only a few photographs, including the tips of bunches, were taken in other conditions.</p>

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a very high density of prostrate hairs,
- the young leaves with bronze spots,
- the adult leaves, with three or five lobes, a slightly open petiole sinus or with slightly overlapping lobes, medium teeth with convex sides, a strong anthocyanin coloration of veins, a blistered leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, a medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the ellipsoid berries.

Genetic profile

Microsatellite	VVS2	VVMD5	VVMD7	VVMD27	VRZAG62	VRZAG79	VVMD25	VVMD28	VVMD32
Allel 1	131	225	239	172	188	248	240	233	255
Allel 2	149	229	257	186	194	252	248	247	271

Phenology

<p>The growth stages indicated are the result of obsrvations made at the Domaine de Vassal Estate where the set of these varieties form a collection. The results are indicated compared to the Chasselas vine variety as a reference in order to make comparisons between years and different sites. As such, for information purposes, the dates for the Chasselas B growth stage at Domaine de Vassal are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Bud burst, 21 March (average over 50 years)</li>
<li>Grape maturity, 14 August (average over 50 years)</li>
</ul>

Bud burst: 1 day before Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 3 weeks to 3 weeks and a half after Chasselas.

Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

Chenin is a vigorous and fertile variety whose production potential depends a lot on agronomic soil fertility where it is grown. It is susceptible to heat. Budburst is early. After a spring frost, the secondary buds demonstrate very low fertility.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests These remarks are also the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and study of bibliographic references.

These remarks are also the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and study of bibliographic references.

Chenin is particularly susceptible to grey rot, powdery mildew and wood diseases. It resists better to downy mildew, black rot and to anthracnose.

Technological potentiality

<p>The size of grape clusters and berries indicated are based on the following scales:</p>
<table id="potentiel">
<thead>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td colspan="2">Wine grape varieties</td>
<td colspan="2">Table grape varieties</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Size</td>
<td>Bunch (g)</td>
<td>Berry (g)</td>
<td>Bunch (g)</td>
<td>Berry (g)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very small</td>
<td>≤ 100</td>
<td>< 1</td>
<td>< 150</td>
<td>< 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Small</td>
<td>100 - 200</td>
<td>1,5 - 2</td>
<td>150 - 250</td>
<td>2 - 3,5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Moderate</td>
<td>200 - 250</td>
<td>2 - 2,5</td>
<td>250 - 400</td>
<td>3,5 - 5,5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Large</td>
<td>250 - 400</td>
<td>2,5 - 3,5</td>
<td>400 - 700</td>
<td>5,5 - 8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very large</td>
<td>> 400</td>
<td>> 3,5</td>
<td>> 700</td>
<td>> 8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Remarks concerning the characteristics of the wines are generally based on tastings organised by juries of professionals.</p>

The bunches are medium to large and the berries are small to medium in size. Depending on the growing conditions and the terroirs (limestone, schists) this variety can be used to produce sparkling wines, white wines, or liqueur wines. Acidity potential is high and the wines produced are elegant, generally quite lively, with aromas of honey.

Clonal selection in France In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

The fourteen certified Chenin clones carry the numbers 220, 278, 416, 417, 624, 880, 982, 1018, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1209, 1286 and 1348.

More than 300 clones are planted in a conservatory in the wine-growing region of Anjou since 1996. An other conservatory-collection of fiften or so clones was planted in the French department of Aveyron in 1995.

Bibliographic references The main bibliographical sources are provided.

- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.

Description of clones certified in France In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

		Identity and availability					Agronomic data						Technological data						Autres informations
Clone no.	Marque	Origin	Selection	Year of certification	Agronomic references	Surface area used for propagation (year)	Fertility	Production level	Bunch weight	Vigor	Berry size	Susceptibility to grey rot	Sugar level	Color potential	Titrable acidity	Tannic structure	Aromatic intensity	Oenological suitability	New	General note	Agro-tecnic note	Note agronomique	Agronomic note	Links
220		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1973	Loire-Valley	6.01 ha	medium	medium	medium			low to medium	high		medium			fine, aromatic and powerful wines		less compact bunches. Clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.
278		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1973	Loire-Valley	0.26 ha	medium	medium	medium				medium					well-balanced wines of good typicity
416		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1976	Loire-Valley	0.53 ha	medium	high	high		medium to high		low					representative wines of the variety
417		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1976	Loire-Valley		medium	high	high		medium to high		low					representative wines of the variety
624		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1979	Loire-Valley	0.69 ha	medium to high	medium to high	medium			medium to high	medium		low to medium			representative wines of the variety		slightly irregular production
880		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1986	Loire-Valley	4.41 ha	low to medium	medium	medium to high			low to medium	high					powerful, fat and full-bodied wines		clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained
982		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1992	Loire-Valley	2.00 ha	medium	medium	medium				high					full-bodied and powerful dry wines		early maturity clone, appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.
1018		Maine-et-Loire	ENTAV	1994	Loire-Valley	1.72 ha	medium	medium	medium			medium to high	high					suitable for the production of semi-sweet wines		early maturity clone, appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.
1206		Maine-et-Loire	INRA - IFV	2014	Loire-Valley		high	low to medium	low			low to medium	high		medium		medium to high	suitable for the production of quality semi-sweet wines		clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained. Less compact bunches and less susceptible to grey rot
1207		Maine-et-Loire	INRA - IFV	2014	Loire-Valley		medium	low	low			medium	high		medium		high	suitable for the production of quality semi-sweet wines		slightly earlier clone, appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.
1208		Maine-et-Loire	INRA - IFV	2014	Loire-Valley		medium to high	medium	low to medium			medium	high		medium		high	suitable for the production of quality dry wines		slightly earlier clone, appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained.
1209		Maine-et-Loire	INRA - IFV	2014	Loire-Valley		low	medium	medium to high			medium	medium		medium to high		medium	suitable for the production of quality dry wines		later maturity clone with an average production level. Good results during early years.
1286		Val-de-Loire	Pépinières Mercier - IFV	2018
1348		Maine-et-Loire	Pépinières Mercier - IFV	2020

Note

PDF export

Catalogue of grapevines cultivated in France