Casa Nuestra Winery Participates In
First International Conference On Chenin Blanc in Loire Valley, France

Casa Nuestra Winery, of St. Helena, Napa Valley will represent North America in the first international conference on Chenin Blanc to be held in the Loire Valley, France, July 2 through July 5. Casa Nuestra Winery is one of the foremost producers of ultra premium Chenin Blanc, having specialized in the variety for 23 years.

In Europe and other wine growing regions around the world, Chenin Blanc holds a place among the most noble premium white wine varieties. In contrast, in North America, the white wine market is dominated by Chardonnay, and there are very few premium wine producers still making Chenin Blanc.

The international conference, called the Rendezvous De Chenin, will occur in the ancestral homeland of the variety, the famous Loire Valley. Famed for its storybook chateaux, the Loire was historically the region where the French aristocracy built their summer residences. The white wine of the region, made from Chenin Blanc, has been justly renowned for centuries, and is especially known for this long cellar life.

The conference invited Casa Nuestra Winery to participate, together with representatives from France, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Casa is the only North American Chenin Blanc producer to be represented at the conference. The delegation from Casa Nuestra, will include co-owner and founder, Gene Kirkham, and winemaker Allen Price, who will participate in three days of tasting panels, evaluating Chenin Blanc wines from around the world.

Chenin Blanc is an extremely versatile variety, and wines in many styles are made from this grape. At the conference, the full spectrum of Chenin Blanc will be represented: dry wines, off dry wines, dessert style wines, and sparkling wines. Casa Nuestra's trademark style is a dry Chenin Blanc, though when conditions have permitted, Casa has made a late harvest dessert Chenin. For further details on the conference see www.oenologuesdefrance.fr