vee-oh-nyay
Viognier is wine in its own league with a delightfully perfumed and full bodied signature. A native of the Rhone Valley which is mostly hailed for its red wine like Syrah and Grenache, Viognier is the region’s stand out white.
The grape grows best in the northern Rhone appellation of Condreau which turns into a deliciously aromatic wine. The grape clawed back from near extinction in the late 1960s, nurtured by dedicated winemakers in France and the new world to emerge as a bonafide international grape of great potential.
around the world
Today Viognier thrives not just in the northern Rhone but also across the world, especially in the southern hemisphere’s sunny realms. Australia’s Eden Valley and Franshoek in South Africa turn out richly flavoured Viognier, barrel ageing some batches to impressive results. India has also adapted Viognier to its terroir with wine lovers lapping up the food friendly white.
Tastes Like
At its core, Viognier is all about floral aromas, stone and tropical fruit flavours like apricot and peach, elevated by a good weight on the mid palate and moderate acidity with creamy texture. Barrel aged Viognier can display complex flavours and tones of vanilla, dry fruit and herbs.
On the palate
A concentrated, perfumed nose of honeysuckle and peach followed by ripe fruit flavours, juicy acidity and lovely, clean length.
Pairing Recommendations
Viognier is uniquely food friend white wine, given its balance of ripe fruit and full body. While seafood like salmon and shrimp work well, lightly cooked pork and chicken can buoy Viognier’s expression. Additionally, the white wine’s creamy texture is a nice match for grilled veggies and meats.
key styles
The Condrieu appellation in Northern Rhone vinified the gold standard of Viognier, making an unoaked floral style and a barrel aged, opulent wine that shows a bevy of fruity and savoury flavours.
The New World style crafted by the likes of Australia, South Africa and India is conspicuously fruit forward and full bodied, showing the influence of good sun and generous ripening cycle.
