Hella Chenin Wine Fest – May 16th, 2026
Report on the second Hella Chenin Wine Fest, held on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, at Hammerling Wines in Berkeley, California. The event featured a tasting of Chenin Blanc wines from California, Oregon, South Africa, Australia, and France, and featured a late-morning seminar followed by a trade tasting and then a consumer tasting in the afternoon.
Hella Chenin was founded by Peter Andrews of Culture Wine Co., Josh Hammerling of Hammerling Wines, and Marty Winters and Alex Pitts of Maître de Chai Wine. Established in 2023 and based in San Francisco, Culture Wine Co. is the only current US importer focusing exclusively on South African wines. Hammerling Wines in Berkeley was launched in 2018 and specializes in sparkling wine from cool-climate vineyard sites in California. Also located in Berkeley, Maître de Chai Wine was founded in 2012 and produces low-intervention wines, many from older California vineyards. This year’s event was mainly sponsored by four organizations – Wines of South Africa, Enjoy Clarksburg, Wine Folly, and Fontaine Glassware.
As stated in the event program booklet, “Hella Chenin is on a mission to give Chenin Blanc the spotlight it deserves.” The statement goes on to mention that they want to promote family-run wineries, and that they’re working to build a growing community that will connect winemakers and growers, wine consumers, and industry professionals to share their passion for Chenin Blanc.
Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). Established in 1986, the organization works to advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees.
Seminar
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| Hella Chenin Seminar - Niels Verburg, Madeline Puckette, Bree Stock |
This year’s Hella Chenin started with a seminar just outside of the Hammerling Wines space. Titled “Chenin Blanc in a Changing Wine Culture,” it was moderated by Madeline Puckette, the co-founder of Wine Folly, and featured panelists Niels Verburg of Luddite Wines in South Africa and Bree Stock, MW, of Limited Addition Wines in Oregon.
The discussion touched on a number of topics related to Chenin Blanc’s position in the wine marketplace, both historically and now. Niels spoke about how Chenin Blanc production in South Africa had been almost entirely for nondescript bulk wines and for brandy, but that in the mid-1990s things began to change and vintners started taking the variety more seriously. Crop loads in the vineyard were managed more for quality than quantity, and winemakers looked at using skin contact, bâtonnage, aging in oak barriques and foudre, clay, and concrete, and other techniques to help produce more serious wines. The change in Oregon and California has come more recently – for years Chenin Blanc there was mostly made into simple and somewhat sweet wines, but now producers are making Chenin in very diverse styles.
The panelists talked about how this diversity of styles for Chenin Blanc can be both a positive and a negative, as it can confuse consumers. But they noted that with its generally round texture and higher acidity, it can work well in both warmer and cooler vineyard locations, and that this character can also help with producing wines that will go well with a variety of foods and will also age well. Niels and Bree agreed that Chenin is more transparent than most winegrape varieties in expressing the terroir of the vineyard site.
Niels told us about South Africa’s Old Vine Project, which aims to preserve older vineyards, even though production from older vines is substantially lower than that from young vines. He noted how older vines become self-regulating and require less work in the vineyard, and how the fruit from older vines typically has a better balance of flavor and acidity so it also tends to need less work in the winery.
This was a lively seminar and a good way to kick off the Hella Chenin event this year.
Some Favorites |
OVERALL FAVORITES
South African Wines
Aslina Wines 2024 Skin Contact Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
Beaumont Family Wines 2023 Chenin Blanc, Bot River
Brookdale Estate 2023 Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Paarl
Luddite Wines 2024 Chenin Blanc, Bot River
Rall Wines 2024 “NOA” Chenin Blanc, Swartland
Spier Wine Farm 2025 “Seaward” Chenin Blanc, Swartland
French Wines
Domaine Champalou 2024 “Les Fondraux” Vouvray
Thierry Germain 2024 “l’Insolite” Saumur
California Wines
Broc Cellars 2023 “Happi” Chenin Blanc, Massa Vineyard, Carmel Valley
Chappellet Winery 2025 Chenin Blanc, Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley
Failla Wines 2019 Chenin Blanc, Jurassic Park Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
Fine Disregard Wine Co. 2020 Chenin Blanc, Chalone Vineyard, Chalone
Forlorn Hope Wines 2015 Chenin Blanc, Rorick Heritage Vineyard, Calaveras County
Haarmeyer Wine Cellars 2023 “Gold Hill’ Chenin Blanc, Peeps Vineyard, El Dorado County
Kleinlerer Wines 2020 “Skin Contact” Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg
Leo Steen Wines 2021 Chenin Blanc, Saini Farms, Dry Creek Valley
Littorai Wines 2018 “The Haven” Chenin Blanc, Sonoma Coast
Maître de Chai Wine 2017 “Kierkegaard” Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
Pax Wines 2024 Chenin Blanc, Lyman Ranch, Amador County
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
South African Wines
A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines 2025 “Secateurs” Chenin Blanc, Swartland
Bosman Wines 2025 “Generation 8” Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region
Beaumont Family Wines 2024 “Hope Margureite” Chenin Blanc, Bot River
Curator 2025 Reserve Chenin Blanc, Swartland
Luddite Wines 2022 Chenin Blanc, Bot River
Reyneke Wines 2025 “Vinehugger” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape
Savage Wines 2022 “Never Been Asked to Dance” Chenin Blanc, Swartland
Scions of Sinai Wines 2023 “Granitas Cape White”, Cape Coastal Region
Australian Wines
Vino Volte Wines 2024 “Funky & Fearless” Chenin Blanc, Swan Valley
French Wines
Château d’Epiré 2024 Savennières
Granges Saint-Sauveur 2020 “Chenin Centenaire”, Vin de France
Oregon Wines
Limited Addition Wines 2023 “Noble Dry” Chenin Blanc, Willamette Valley
Maison Noir Wines 2025 “Chenin Chenin” Chenin Blanc, Willamette Valley
California Wines
Birichino Wines 2025 Chenin Blanc, Jurassic Park Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
Fine Disregard Wine Co. 2024 Chenin Blanc, Chalone Vineyard, Chalone
Folk Machine 2025 “Jeanne d’Arc”, California
Foxen Vineyard & Winery 2021 Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Gros Ventre Cellars 2024 Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg
Haarmeyer Wine Cellars 2024 “St. Rey En Foudre” Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg
Hammerling Wines 2022 “Always For Pleasure” Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Massa Vineyard, Carmel Valley
Las Jaras Wines 2022 “Cuvée Esmé Anne” Chenin Blanc, Norgard Vineyard, Mendocino County
Leo Steen Wines 2024 Chenin Blanc, Gimelli Vineyard, Cienega Valley
Littorai Wines 2024 “The Haven” Chenin Blanc, Sonoma Coast
Lo-Fi Wines 2021 Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Honeybear Orchard Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
Maître de Chai Wine NV Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg
Matt Crutchfield Wines 2024 Direct Press Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg
Matthiasson Winery 2023 Chenin Blanc, North Coast
Pali Wine Co. 2023 Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Pali Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Perch Wine Co. 2025 Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg
Ridge Vineyards 2025 Chenin Blanc, Heringer Vineyard, Clarksburg
Rococo Wines 2025 Chenin Blanc, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County
Sandlands Vineyards 2024 Chenin Blanc, Amador County
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General Tasting impressions:
There were more winery tables at this year’s Hella Chenin than at last year’s inaugural event, reflecting the addition of wines from Oregon, Australia, and France to last year’s representation from only California and South Africa. Between vintners, importers, and regionally-focused wine tables, there were wines from over 60 producers this year. A number of wines sourced from California’s Clarksburg growing region – which accounts for a large percentage of the quality Chenin Blanc grown in the state – were poured at the Enjoy Clarksburg table, while wines from France’s famed Loire Valley were poured at the Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant table.
Pairs of producers shared tables set up below canopies in the large open space adjacent to Hammerling Wines as well as at a few indoor tables, and there was plenty of room to circulate throughout. Even though the event was sold out, the area never felt too crowded. In addition to the winery tables, food was available from several local Bay Area chefs at the event, there were oysters from Lo-Fi Oyster Co., and there was very good live music as well. As was the case at last year’s inaugural Hella Chenin, I thought that this was an exceptionally well-organized and well-run event.
Most of the wines poured at the Hella Chenin tasting were 100% varietal though there were also some Chenin-based blends…even one Chenin-Mourvèdre blend from Matt Crutchfield! For a single grape variety, the event showcased a wide array of styles in which Chenin Blanc can be made, from bone-dry and high-acid to slightly sweet and richer in texture, as well as sparkling. The South African wines came from Stellenbosch, Swartland, Bot River, and several other regions there, while the California wines came from regions ranging from Santa Barbara to Mendocino to the Sierra Foothills, with quite a few from Clarksburg. The Oregon wines were from Willamette Valley and Rogue Valley, the Australian wines were from Swan Valley, and not surprisingly, the French wines were from the Loire Valley.
Since there was a generous time period for the trade tasting and then the consumer tasting, I had time to taste wines from nearly every vintner table at Hella Chenin, though I did miss a handful and didn’t taste every wine at all of the tables. Many of the winemakers were behind their winery tables at Hella Chenin – that’s not always the case at tasting events of this size, and it’s always great to have the opportunity to talk with the vintners about their wines.
As is sometimes the case at tasting events such as this one, I didn’t record much in the way of tasting impressions for many of the wines, so I’m just including a list of ones that I particularly enjoyed. I found wines that I liked made in several styles, from the leaner and drier renditions of Chenin Blanc – including sparkling ones – to the richer and slightly sweeter ones, with one favorite from Haarmeyer made in a sous voile style. I also really enjoyed a number of the older vintage wines that were being poured at some of the tables – good examples of Chenin’s ageability. Most of the producers at Hella Chenin poured at least one wine that I thought was noteworthy, and a few had more than one. Overall favorite wines of the event included six from South Africa, two from France, and eleven from California, plus other highlight wines from all of the regions represented – some of which nearly made my list of overall favorites – all listed below.
For the second straight year, Hella Chenin was one of the most fun Bay Area wine events I’ve attended. Once again it was a terrific showcase for the high quality of Chenin Blanc being produced in a variety of styles, and it was great to see the expansion of regions represented this year to Oregon, Australia, and especially France in addition to those from South Africa and California. I definitely learned a lot from both the morning panel discussion and the afternoon tasting. Whether you’re already a fan of Chenin Blanc or just want to learn more about it, you won’t find a better opportunity to find out what this variety can do than attending Hella Chenin.
California Contingent |
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| Birichino |
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| Broc |
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| Chappellet |
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| Enjoy Clarksburg |
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| Failla |
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| Fine Disregard |
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| Forlorn Hope |
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| Foxen |
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| Haarmeyer |
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| Hammerling |
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| Kleinlerer |
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| Littorai Wines |
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| Las Jaras |
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| Leo Steen |
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| Maitre de Chai |
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| Matt Crutchfield |
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| Matthiasson |
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| Pax |
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| Perch |
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| Ridge |
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| Sandlands |
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| Pali |
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| Lo-Fi |
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| Peter Andrews, w/mic - Culture Wine Co. |
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| South Africa Contingent |
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| Aslina Wines |
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| A.A. Badenhorst |
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| Alheit, Beaumont, Curator, Sadie, Savage |
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| Luddite Wines |
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| Beaumont |
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| Bosman Wines |
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| Raats |
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| Rall |
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| Reyneke |
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| Australia, France, and Oregon Contingents |
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| Australia - Vina Volta |
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| France - Chateau d'Epire, Thierry Germain, Bernard Baudry |
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| France - Grange Saint-Sauveur |
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| France - Pascal Janvier, Champalou |
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| Oregon - Landmass |
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| Oregon - Limited Addition |
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| Oregon - Maison Noir |
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| South Africa - Spier |
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| 2026 Hella Chenin |
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