Husch Chenin Blanc Mendocino is a stainless-steel-fermented white wine from Anderson Valley at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. The 2022 vintage earned 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and a Double Gold at the 2023 Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition, cementing its status as one of California's most compelling Chenin Blanc bottlings.Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5% | Origin: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California | Varietal: Chenin Blanc | Winery: Husch VineyardsProduction & HeritageHusch Vineyards holds the distinction of being the first bonded winery in Anderson Valley, a cool-climate pocket of Mendocino County prized for aromatic white varieties. Since 1976, the estate has practiced no-till farming — decades before regenerative agriculture entered the mainstream conversation. The Chenin Blanc is fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve primary fruit and floral aromatics, then held on its lees for added texture and mid-palate weight, a technique that gives the wine a roundness unusual for the varietal at this price tier.Tasting NotesAroma: Honeydew melon and ripe peach greet the nose first, giving way to green apple skin and a subtle trace of jasmine tea. There is a quiet floral lift that deepens as the wine opens in the glass.Taste: The entry is juicy and bright, with Meyer lemon and Fuji apple at the forefront. Mid-palate, spiced pear and crystallized ginger emerge alongside a gentle touch of off-dry sweetness, balanced by medium-plus acidity that keeps flavors taut and precise. Passion fruit and a faint lemongrass quality add complexity on the back end.Finish: Medium in length with a tangy, apple-driven persistence and a whisper of sea-air salinity. The acidity lingers cleanly, leaving the palate refreshed rather than coated.How to Drink Husch Chenin BlancServe well chilled at 45–50°F to highlight the wine's aromatic complexity while keeping its fruit bright. This Chenin Blanc is equally enjoyable on its own as a warm-weather sipper or paired with food. For cocktail-curious drinkers: use it in a White Wine Spritzer, where its natural acidity and melon character shine against sparkling water and a citrus twist; in a French 75 riff substituting still Chenin Blanc for Champagne, which lets the wine's floral notes play off gin botanicals; or in a Wine Sangria with sliced stone fruit and fresh mint, taking advantage of the peach and apple profile already present in the glass.Best For Weeknight dinners featuring lighter fare — salads, shellfish, or roast chicken Introducing wine drinkers to the Chenin Blanc grape through a high-quality domestic example Warm-weather entertaining on a patio or at a picnic Gifting to someone who appreciates small-production California whites with history Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Husch Chenin Blanc taste like? It leads with bright Meyer lemon and ripe apple, transitions through spiced pear and crystallized ginger at mid-palate, and finishes with tangy acidity and a hint of salinity. The overall impression is juicy, aromatic, and refreshingly balanced with a touch of off-dry sweetness.How does Husch Chenin Blanc compare to Navarro Vineyards Chenin Blanc? Both wines come from Anderson Valley's cool climate and share a fruit-forward, aromatic style, but Husch tends toward slightly more tropical and melon-driven notes while Navarro often leans crisper and more citrus-focused. Husch's lees contact also gives it a rounder mid-palate texture compared to Navarro's leaner profile.Is Husch Chenin Blanc good for beginners? Its approachable fruit character, gentle touch of sweetness, and moderate 12.5% ABV make it an excellent entry point for anyone exploring white wine or the Chenin Blanc grape specifically.Where is Husch Chenin Blanc made? It is produced at Husch Vineyards in Anderson Valley, a sub-appellation of Mendocino County in Northern California. Husch was the first bonded winery established in the valley and has farmed its estate vineyards using no-till practices since 1976.What foods pair well with Husch Chenin Blanc? Steamed mussels or clams benefit from the wine's acidity and salinity. Thai green papaya salad mirrors its tropical and herbaceous notes. Roast pork loin with apple chutney echoes the apple and pear core of the wine. Soft, creamy goat cheese highlights the floral aromatics. Seared scallops with a citrus beurre blanc complement its Meyer lemon character.What sizes does Husch Chenin Blanc come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.Is Husch Chenin Blanc worth the price? Positioned as an affordable, everyday white, it consistently punches above its weight class — the 92-point Wine Enthusiast score on the 2022 vintage places it among the highest-rated domestic Chenin Blancs at its value tier.Why Husch Chenin Blanc?Chenin Blanc rarely gets the spotlight in California, which makes Husch's long commitment to the grape all the more notable. Produced at Anderson Valley's founding winery — a property that adopted regenerative, no-till viticulture nearly fifty years ago — the wine reflects a specific place and a philosophy that prioritizes soil health over trend-chasing. With a 92-point Wine Enthusiast score and a Double Gold medal from the 2023 Mendocino County Fair, this is not a sleeper pick anymore, but it still drinks like one: generous, aromatic, and refreshingly honest in a category often dominated by imports.
