Welcome back Wine friends! In this episode, I’m joined by Liam D’Arcy, better known as The Wine Wally on Instagram, a wine enthusiast who has built a thriving online community of over 104,000 followers. Unlike my usual guests—winemakers, sommeliers, or Masters of Wine—Liam is a passionate self-taught wine lover who has made wine education fun, fresh, and approachable. Now, he’s taken on a bold challenge: mastering everything there is to know about Chenin Blanc.
To put his knowledge to the test, I quiz Liam on the flavors, styles, and top regions for Chenin Blanc, from its spiritual home in the Loire Valley to the powerhouse vineyards of South Africa. We explore the difference between Vouvray and Savennières, the role of noble rot in sweet wines, and the surprising history of Chenin in California. But the challenge doesn’t stop there—I throw him into a rapid-fire round of global wine labeling terms to see if he can decipher everything from “Trocken” to “Feinherb.”
Before diving in, I have some exciting news! I have been nominated for the Wine Travel Awards in the Influencer category for expert opinion. The awards celebrate the best in wine tourism and education, and your support could make a big difference. Your support would mean the world to me as I continue sharing my passion for wine with fellow enthusiasts. It takes one click to vote. So please VOTE HERE.
If you want to skip ahead:
04.30: Liam shares his earliest memories of drinking wine.
06.25: Being ranked seventh in England as a hammer thrower.
08.30: Running a recruitment business outside of wine.
09.30: Blogging and documenting his wine learning journey.
11.30: The goal to create content for wine beginners.
12.30: Blind tasting wines helps identify quality differences.
13.30: Liam’s three criterias to analyze wine: price perception, flavor intensity, and surprise.
15.30: Sharing the most embarrassing wine misunderstanding: Bubbles in a dusty wine glass
17.30: Sticky toffee pudding pairing with sparkling Viognier.
19.30: The Chenin Blanc quiz and flavor profiles.
20.30: Chenin Blanc is highly versatile in style and winemaking.
22.00: Warmer climates result in riper, more tropical fruit flavors.
24.00: Loire Valley is the historic home of Chenin Blanc.
27.00: California once had the most Chenin Blanc plantings in the world.
29.00: Key Loire regions for Chenin Blanc include Vouvray and Savennières.
31.00: Vouvray produces dry, off-dry, and sparkling Chenin Blanc.
32.30: Savennières is exclusively dry with high acidity and tension.
34.00: Vintage variation in Loire affects sweetness levels in Vouvray.
35.30: Noble rot enhances sweetness in Loire’s Coteaux du Layon wines.
38.00: South Africa's Swartland region produces high-quality Chenin Blanc.
40.00: Discovering premium South African producers like Ken Forrester.
44.00: Quickfire round on global wine labeling terms begins.
54.00: Final tip: Experiment by buying pricier versions of favorite wines.
And a reminder to vote for me for the Wine Travel Awards. It will only take a second:
https://winetravelawards.com/nominee/janina-doyle/
Any thoughts or questions, do email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat
If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat
Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
Until next time, Cheers to you!
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