Loire Valley Chenin Blanc: a style guide
Here is a style guide to the many different styles of Loire Chenin Blanc, what to expect and which ones to try.
It was during her time studying for a French and Italian degree that Natalie began her foray into wine: tutoring French in exchange for WSET lessons in her spare time (she now realises who got the better deal!). She moved to the Languedoc after graduating to work for a vineyard tour company, before returning to the UK in 2016 to join the tastings team at Decanter.
She worked across Decanter's panel tastings and wine competitions before becoming awards competition manager, overseeing the competitive and judging elements of the Decanter World Wine Awards, Decanter Asia Wine Awards and Retailer Awards, and completing her WSET Diploma in 2019.
In 2021 she made the shift to the Decanter editorial team, and is now the Regional Editor for France (outside of Bordeaux and Burgundy).
She will always be drawn to the wines of the Languedoc and Roussillon, but her wine tastes are wide-ranging and she can't resist a glass of Manzanilla Sherry or the lure of an obscure grape variety.
Here is a style guide to the many different styles of Loire Chenin Blanc, what to expect and which ones to try.
Martin Tickle is the Fine Wine Buyer for Jeroboams Wine Merchants, with a particular focus on the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.
Leonid Fadeev works at Cote Rocheuse as Executive Director, steadfastly developing the company whilst continuing his wine education, working towards the Master of Wine qualification.
Peter Ranscombe is a journalist, copywriter and novelist. He is also the wine columnist and drinks blogger for Scottish Field magazine.
Maurizio Broggi works at the Wine Scholar Guild as Education Director for Italy, developing the Italian Wine Scholar programme.
Adam Walls is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) and a wine buyer for Wine Selectors, Australia.
Alastair England is wine director for Zuma USA and is based out of their Miami location.
Bob Campbell is wine editor of Taste magazine and Air New Zealand’s in-flight magazine KiaOra, and runs wine certificate courses in New Zealand.
Marc Almert is in charge of the wine department at five-star hotel Baur au Lac‘s two-Michelin-star restaurant Pavillon. He was named Best Sommelier of Germany in 2017 and in 2019 the Best Sommelier in the World.
Tim Sykes is a member of the Wine Society buyers team, and is responsible for buying Bordeaux, Beaujolais and Sherry.
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Ronald Khoo, a wine buyer for Cathay Pacific airlines, joins the Decanter Asia Wine Awards as a new judge for 2019.
Leon Liang is a wine educator and founder of wine education company Grapea Institute.
Mathias Camilleri MS, who recently moved across to the wine department at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019
Head Sommelier at Forum Restaurant Hong Kong, Jacky Luk is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019
Award winning sommelier for JIA Group Derek Li is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019
French and German wine specialist and founder of Wein & Vin Boon Heng, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards
Cassidy Dart MW, the fifth South African to pass the Master of Wine qualification, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards
Director of Wine for the Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong, Alan Tse is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Awards 2019