Viognier Wine Guide

Viognier is a white wine known for its full body that originated in Southern France. If you love bolder white wines like Chardonnay, Viognier is going to be your new best friend. With flavours of peach and honeysuckle, this wine can be oak-aged to add a rich creamy taste and hints of vanilla. In this Viognier wine guide, we dive into this great white wine grape – flavours, best pairings and what to look for.

Spotlight on Viognier

Viognier is actually very tricky to grow as its naturally low acidity requires a lot of sunshine to allow the grapes to fully ripen and develop. But if it gets too much, it risks being too high in alcohol. Because of this, it flourishes in warm climates with cool nights.

Origins of Viognier

Viognier is most well known for coming from France’s northern Rhône appellations of Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie. But it is thought that it originated in Dalmatia (Bosnia) and was imported to France around 280AD.

Although Viognier is gaining popularity now, in the 1960’s it actually almost became extinct due to low yields and unpredictability in the vineyard. Luckily Yalumba in Australia and a few Californian wineries took interest in this grape and gave it a new lease on life in the 1980s.

Today Viognier is grown in Australia across many regions including Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Hunter Valley, the Yarra Valley, Riverland and the Limestone Coast. But it has truly flourished in the Eden Valley.

Flavour profile of Viognier

Viognier is an aromatic wine that ranges in taste from mango, peach and honeysuckle to creamier aromas of vanilla and clove. It can range from light to bold and creamy depending on the winemaking but is usually soft on acidity. On the palate, the wines are usually dry but can be slightly off-dry. They often give off an oily sensation in the middle of the tongue, and drier styles have less fruit on the palate with a subtle bitterness.

Viognier is known for apricot and stone fruit notes, perfumed smells and usually high alcohol. It responds positively to oak influence which adds richness and nuttiness that complements apricot flavours. It is also sometimes added to Shiraz to give further complexity and fragrance.

Where you’ll find Viognier and what to look for

So now you know what to expect, let’s dive into where to find it and what to look for in this Viognier Wine Guide. In the old world, Viognier is found in the northern Rhône. It is often blended with Marsanne and Roussanne, and also co-fermented with syrah in Côte-Rôtie to add perfume. You’ll also find plenty of Viognier from Australia and California, as well as some from South Africa, Washington and Virginia. Viognier grows best in sunny regions with cool nights so make sure you lookout for this.

Viognier usually ranges from $17-$25 a bottle but can be upwards of $40. Although it is usually high alcohol, if you want to look out for a lighter style, try and find a wine with an ABV of less than 14%. If you want something richer and bolder, opt for something above. Oak also makes a difference to the style. If you prefer a fruitier and floral wine with more acidity, opt for a wine that hasn’t been oaked. If you love oaked wine, seek out the oaked styles.

What to pair with Viognier

It wouldn’t be a Viognier Wine Guide without working out what it pairs with. Because of its low-medium acidity, try to pair it with dishes that don’t have too much boldness or acidity. If you are looking for a good food pairing wine, opt for an oaked Viognier. These pair with a greater range of foods including seafood, red and white meats and spicy dishes.

Summary: Viognier wine guide

In summary, Viognier is a white wine grape that can offer so much range – whether you love floral and fruity aromatic wines or creamy and bold whites. It is a great alternative for Chardonnay lovers, and it pairs beautifully with plenty of foods when oaked. The new world has made sure we all get to enjoy this mighty white wine grape!