Viognier

Viognier is a white wine grape variety. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhône Valley. Outside of the Rhône, Viognier can be found in regions of North America and Australia.

History

The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown; it is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia (present day Croatia) and then brought to Rhône by the Romans. One legend states that the Roman emperor Probus brought the vine to the region in 281 AD; another has the grape packaged with Syrah on a cargo ship navigating the Rhône river, en route to Beaujolais.

Viticulture

Viognier can be a difficult grape to grow because it is prone to powdery mildew. It has low and unpredictable yields and should be picked only when fully ripe. When picked too early, the grape fails to develop the full extent of its aromas and tastes. When picked too late, the grape produces wine that is oily and lacks perfume. Winemakers in the Rhône often pick the grapes at different ripeness levels to produce a more balanced wine.

Wine regions

Viognier has been planted much throughout the world but is most widely planted in the Rhône Valley. It is a mandatory component of the Côte-Rôtie style. In 1965, the grape was almost extinct when there were only eight hectares in Northern Rhône producing just 1,900 litres of wine. The popularity and price of the wine have risen, and the number of plantings has increased. Rhône now has over 740 hectares planted.

In 2004, the Australian Wine Research Institute set out to find the country's "next big white wine", and Viognier was considered a top contender. However, the grape did not fare well in various scientific trials, and by 2008, it had been dismissed as a meaningful prospect.

In recent years, plantings of Viognier in the United States and elsewhere have increased dramatically. The grape's aromatic character and richness can add complexity to Chardonnay-based wine. Its potential in the wine industry in developing wine regions, such as Virginia and New Zealand, is also being explored.

Styles

Viognier wines are well known for their floral aromas, due to terpenes, which are also found in Muscat and Riesling wines. There are also many other powerful flower and fruit aromas which can be perceived in these wines depending on where they were grown, the weather conditions and how old the vines are.

Food pairing

Viognier pairs well with spicy foods such as Thai cuisine. It is also a great match with seafood, including shellfish and lobster, and can be paired with a variety of cheeses, including Brie, Gruyère, and Camembert.