Often overshadowed by sauvignon blanc, chenin is a versatile variety

Expert tips for those jobs best done sooner rather than later

The white grape variety chenin blanc is the most widely planted grape variety in South Africa, where it has made a real home for itself.

Its native heartland, however, is the central Loire Valley, where it is considered as a premium quality variety and is capable of producing worldclass wines. Often overlooked for the more fashionable sauvignon blanc, chenin has far greater versatility, making dry, medium-dry, sweet and sparkling wines, with the propensity to undergo oak fermentation or ageing, under the right conditions.

Many different sub-regions of the Loire Valley make wines from chenin blanc, with the wines of Savennières nearly all dry and those of Bonnezeaux or Coteaux du Layon, being sweet. The prime Loire appellation for chenin blanc is Vouvray, located on the river near Tours, opposite the similar but lesser known Montlouis. The wines of Vouvray have in-built class, deriving from the particular soils and micro-climate, and can be dry, medium or sweet and indeed sparkling. Château de Valmer makes a particularly good Vouvray in all four styles, with the sweeter capable of ageing ten years or more.

The Wine Society has a comprehensive range of chenin blanc from the Loire, including some vintages of Domaine Huet Vouvray, the undisputed leader of the Vouvray appellation. Again, making the full spectrum of the Vouvray styles, the 1969 Demi-sec is on offer at £130 a bottle. Extraordinarily, it also has a 1948 vintage available at £245 per bottle. Exceptional wines at exceptional prices, but actually amazing value considering the age and potential drinkability.

In its ‘new’ home of South Africa, chenin blanc thrives, with inexpensive and premium wines produced. All the supermarkets have South African chenin at low prices, which are easy drinking, simple wines. More serious wines, however, are worth seeking out, rewarding the taster with deep, complex, satisfying flavours that linger on the palate.

Old Road Wine Company Anemos Chenin Blanc 2020 comes from the prestigious Franschoek region, made fromunirrigated vines grown at over 1,000 feet altitude, giving coolness. Nine months ageing in old French oak barrels gives added depth and complexity, resulting in a fresh, yet full-bodied and mineral wine with great depth of flavour of pears, quince, honeycomb and a hint of spice. £15.95 from Slurp and The Secret Bottle Shop.

Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2021 is made by one of the oldest wineries in South Africa, founded in1693. Handpicked from some of the oldest bush vines in South Africa, it is nevertheless a very modern style of wine, with opulent, tropical fruit flavours, combining with ripe pear and honey hints. Low yielding vines caressed by cool ocean breezes, produce wine of exceptional concentration. Harvesting takes place in two phases, with the first giving the fresh fruit character, fermented in a combination of old large oak vats, concrete and amphorae. The later harvest is fermented for 10 months in small oak casks and adds great structure and complexity, this being blended with the earlier harvested wine. Fabulous value at only £11 a bottle from Tesco (currently on offer at £9).

Much as we welcome warmer months, long sunny spells and summer holidays, jobs around the house shouldn’t be neglected. When temperatures soar, taking advantage of longer, lighter days can reward you tenfold in the cleaning stakes – and with Covid still kicking around, maintaining good hygiene in the home is still really important.

Here, experts share their top tips on how to keep things spick and span in the sunshine…

1. Clean your windows

“As windows are often opened daily during the summer, it’s a good time to clean around the seals, mechanisms and sills,” says Sarah Dempsey (far right), cleaning expert at MyJobQuote.

“Start by running your vacuum nozzle along the edges to remove loose dirt and insects. Then use a microfibre cloth and bucket of warm water with a few drops of washing up liquid to wipe it over. Dry off with a fresh cloth and leave the windows open so the sun gets rid of any remaining moisture.”

2. Clear out your kitchen units

Dempsey says summer is the perfect time to clean out kitchen cupboards and pantries: “With flies and other insects buzzing around during the summer months, it’s a good idea to make sure there are no open packets of old food festering at the back of shelves.”

She says to take everything out, wipe over the shelves and bin anything that isn’t edible. Then put everything else back, with the food that needs eating first at the front.

Try Method’s new multi-surface concentrates in four summery scents (bottom right) – Refreshing, Joyful, Dreamy and Lively (£5 each, (240ml) 10 x concentrated formula, Method) which can be diluted to make spray bottles – and help tackle those mucky jobs.

3. Clean around appliances

“Take time to clean under and around the back of appliances at this time of year,” suggests Dempsey. “Fridges, freezer sand washing machines stand on feet, so dust, dirt and food debris tends to find its way underneath.”

If you don’t fancy pulling heavy units out, she says to use a flat, longreach duster. “The cloth type is ideal as you can use it dry to remove dust first, then dampen it with a sanitising cleaner to remove the remaining dirt.”

4. Deep clean the washing machine

“Washing machines are often forgotten about,” says Laura Marsden(below, left), UK marketing manager at Marigold. “You should leave the door and drawer open after washes to let the machine air and dry out, to stop it from getting smelly .” However, if you can’t do this, she suggests drying it down with a Marigold Let It Shine! Microfibre Cloth (£4.99, Amazon, above right). “These cloths are also great for cleaning the drum/outside of the machine, as they remove more than 99% of bacteria with just water,” adds Marsden.

5. Move your bedroom furniture

“Moving bedroom furniture out so you can dust and vacuum thoroughly will keep on top of pollen and other allergens,” notes Dempsey. “Again, you can use a flat, long-reach duster to get under beds and down the backs of furniture to minimise heavy lifting and effort.”

6. Wash ALL of your bedding

“Summer is the perfect time to freshen up your bedding,” says Karen Innes, NPD manager at Slumberdown.

“The warmer months can activate allergies, so making sure your duvet and pillows are fresh and clean, and that you have a cool, calm and comfortable place to sleep, is key to getting the best night’s rest possible.”

Did you know you should wash your duvet and pillows, not just your duvet covers and pillowcases?

“Make sure you check the labels for washing instructions, but as a rule of thumb, most good quality pillows and duvets can simply be popped in the washing machine and then left to air dry,” says Innes.

7. Clean your radiators

“Due to the amount of dust that builds up over time, it should be

imperative to do a thorough clean of your radiators during summer, when they’re used less,” says Jessica Steele (top) of designer radiator specialists BestHeating.

“You should focus on the worst affected areas, which will be the fins inside the radiator, as this will have a build-up of dirt, and hairs from pets.”

She says a few simple steps will do this. Firstly, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of as much dust around the radiator, then focus on the fins by using the attachments to fit inside–this will collect the majority.

“A small brush of some form should then be used to push out any remaining dirt inside and a hairdryer can also support this by blowing out and dislodging any bits that may have become stuck,” advises Steele.

Warm, soapy water and a sponge will work on the outside, leaving radiators looking in great condition afterwards.

8. Clean your rugs and runners

Taking advantage of the warm weather means cleaning your rugs and runners is another good summer task.

“Check what type of rugs you have first, to ensure you’re using the right method to clean them,” notes Dempsey. “Small cotton rugs can usually be machine washed on a low temperature.

“If they’re too big for your washing machine, head to your local launderette, as their machines have bigger drums,” she suggests. “Hire a carpet cleaner to tackle wool and synthetic rugs.”

For many synthetic rugs, she notes you can simply hang them on the washing line and spray them

clean with a pressure washer.

9. Deep clean your bins

“Deep clean bins to prevent a build-up of bacteria and stinky smells,” says Dempsey. She says to use hot water and disinfectant to wash out your bin and pop it outside in the sun. “The heat will ensure it’s dried out thoroughly and the UV rays should help kill off any remaining bacteria,” says Dempsey. “Once dry, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda in the bottom to absorb any further bad smells.”