Craving an opulent, creamy white? Meet Viognier
The Exotic, Sun Goddess Wine Grape
On cold days like these (and because my Jan is damp, not dry), I crave Viognier; the exotic sun goddess white wine grape that hails from France’s Rhône Valley.
What does Viognier taste like?
Fans of fuller-bodied whites like Chardonnay will love Viognier as it’s generally rich and creamy with lots of weighty mouthfeel. No tart, super crisp acidity here! Key notes are apricot and peach with a whiff of acacia blossom or frangipani and a touch of coconut and banana cream on the palate. This is why I describe it as a voluptuous sun goddess on a tropical island, skin glistening with coconut oil wearing a garland of white flowers and drinking a peachy cocktail. What’s not to love?
WATCH THE ‘VINALOGY’ VIDEO HERE! (2 mins 48)
Viognier Sips Safari
Want to get to know the grape? Try these:
Viognier, Paul Jaboulet, £11.50, (£9.50 Nectar price) Sainsbury’s
Like a baby version of the more intense and even more opulent (and expensive) Condrieu, this Rhône white from one of the region’s top producers is an excellent example of the style. It has it all going on with a fresh, citrussy appeal, which makes it a great one to get to know the grape with.
Yalumba ‘Worthy Grounds’ Viognier, Eden Valley, £17 (£15.50 mix 6) Majestic
Viognier has a long term holiday home in Eden Valley Australia and Yalumba were among the first to plant it there. This particular wine has had a touch of oak which gives it a mildly spiced, saffron- like against its apricot richness. A fabulous food wine that will sing with tagines and mild spices.
Splash Out! Condrieu ‘La Combe de Malleval’ 2023, Domaine Stephane Ogier £42.33 Vinatis
If you want to discover the OG, look for a ‘Condrieu’, which is the name of a small appellation (designated wine growing area) in the northern Rhône Valley. Condrieu is Viognier’s spiritual home and it’s here where it expresses itself in its most unapologetic, creamy, aromatic way. Not for everyone and it can get very pricy but I would bathe in the stuff!
Viognier Food Pairing
With its upscaled fruitiness and floral aromatics, Viognier can take mild spice. Gorgeous matches are Moroccan tagine, chicken korma, roast chicken with all the trimmings, monkfish and a cheeky pad Thai.
Have you tried it before? Let me know your faves!
Want more Vinalogy videos? Try this one on Syrah for size.
The sun goddess framing nails Viognier's vibe perfectly. I had the Yalumba a while back and that oaktouch definitely adds dimension without overpowering the apricot core. The Condrieu comparison is useful too since a lot of people hit sticker shock when they see pricing but dont realize they're getting Viognier's purest expression from that tiny appellation.
Once upon a time I thought Viognier's role was to be a minor addition to shiraz. Now my friend Darby Higgs writes that the style has nearly disappeared https://www.vinodiversity.com/shiraz-viognier.html . Now it's a "killa" white on it's own. Anyone fancy "Clonakilla Viognier 2024 at $59.99"?