Vouvray wines are produced from a single grape variety: the Pineau de la Loire also known as Chenin blanc. Originally from Central Europe, this varietal appeared in the Loire Valley around the 4th century. The legend tells us it was brought by St Martin of Tours, the founder of the Abbey of Marmoutier, birthplace of the Vouvray wines. Chenin Blanc, or "plant d'Anjou", became popular in the Loire Valley around the 10th century. In Touraine it is known as "Pineau de la Loire", as the 16th century writer Rabelais wrote in Gargantua "This is Pineau wine, O sweet white wine, by my soul! It is nothing less than taffeta wine" Ancient texts distinguish both the Gros and the Menu Pineau de la Loire. As the "Handbook for wine and spirit traders " explains in 1896: "The white wines from Vouvray hillsides, produced from both the Gros and the Menu Pineau de la Loire, give golden wine with a slight gun flint taste and are sparkling like Champagne or sweet like the richest Spanish wines". The international coding standard for grapes identifies the "Gros Pineau de la Loire" as "Chenin Blanc" and Menu Pineau as "Orbois." The Menu Pineau is still marginally present today in Vouvray. The Chenin Blanc on the other hand has established itself over the centuries and now covers the entire hillside. It undoubtedly gives the wines of Vouvray one of its most beautiful expressions in the world thanks to its incomparable terroir.

Chenin is famous for its mineral expressions of chalk and flint, commonly found in the soils of Vouvray. More generally, it has aromas of ripe pear and quince when young, backed up by hints of acacia honey, candied fruit and lemon. Sometimes spicy notes of ginger and lime can be shown.
With age, the aromas change to honey, truffles, always with the signature aromas of candied fruit.