Wine&Sandwich Chenin Blanc: The Story of an Outsider

Wine & Sandwich – Second Season

The final Vino e Panino event on the Terrace.

Every Wednesday, a different journey: winemakers, special guests, wines to taste, and a sandwich created especially to complement the evening.
A celebration of Italian culinary culture, craftsmanship, and the joy of coming together, with that authentic simplicity that transforms a sandwich and a glass of wine into an experience to remember.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026 PROGRAM

This Wednesday, we will explore a grape variety we love.

CHENIN BLANC: THE STORY OF AN OUTSIDER

Its roots go back to the 9th century in the Loire Valley, where it was grown by monks under the name "Plant d'Anjou". It was only centuries later, around the 1500s, that it took the name we know today, from the Mont-Chenin monastery.

Even Rabelais wrote about it in the 1500s, praising its medicinal properties.

Yet its history has not always been glorious: due to low and inconsistent yields, it was often neglected in the Loire. In South Africa, where it arrived in the 1600s, it was relegated for decades to bulk wine, blended with other varieties — with a reputation as a "workhorse grape", valued more for quantity than quality.

Only in recent decades have some had the courage to focus on old vines and low yields, restoring to this grape variety the nobility it deserves: concentrated, complex wines capable of aging in the bottle with surprising elegance.

An evening to tell the story of this comeback, glass after glass.

Wines to taste: 

SANDWICH

PICO BISTRO AND CHEF D’ERRICO present:

‘A MARENNA

A rustic, Mediterranean, and generous sandwich, made with just a few ingredients, each full of character.

A crispy ciabatta, fried zucchini sautéed with vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, stringy provola cheese, and porchetta.

Where: La Terrazza da Renza (Via Vittorio Emanuele 9, Castiglione Falletto)
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Price: €35 (sandwich included)