When it comes to whites, your average shopper is liable to toss a bottle of chardonnay, pinot gris (aka grigio) or sauvignon blanc in her shopping cart. A sommelier is more likely to stock up on riesling, Champagne and chenin blanc.

Chenin blanc, however, remains elusive to the average consumer. Which is a crying shame. I recently sat down and blind-tasted 12 chenin blancs from all over the world, ranging in price from $10 to $20, and wondered, as I often do, why this white isn’t on more people’s dinner tables every night of the week.

Chenin blanc: An affordable white that goes well with food