Viognier Wine: 10 Best Wines, Flavors, Wine Regions
Want to explore all about Viognier wine before you buy a bottle?
Viognier grapes are believed to have originated in the Rhone Valley wine region of Southern France. It went through a rough journey over the years but is now widely grown in many New World wine regions as well.
Explore everything about Viognier wine - the tasting notes, best Viognier wines to buy in 2023, how they’re made, the wine regions, and a bit of its history.
Further reading
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- Are you a white wine fan? Here are the finest White Wines in the world.
A Quick Intro to Viognier
Viognier (pronounced Vee-own-yay) is the only grape variety that is allowed to be produced in the Condrieu appellation.
The Condrieu appellation was granted AOC status in 1940, and the Viognier grape has been grown there ever since.
Viognier is also the name of the full-bodied, aromatic white wine made from these grapes.
Now you’re probably wondering what a good Viognier tastes like.
Viognier Wine Tasting Notes and Food Pairings
Viognier is a medium to full-bodied wine. It has a delightful stone fruit flavor with floral aromas and is typically associated with apricots and steel flavours.
Even though Viognier is fruity, it isn’t very sweet and is classified as a dry white or semi-sweet wine.
Viognier wine has low acidity, while the alcohol content is slightly higher (usually 13% ABV). Some New World Viogniers, particularly the California Viognier, can reach up to 14-15% ABV.
When pairing Viognier with food, it is important to keep in mind the low-to-medium acidity of the wine, as well as its floral aromas. Viognier pairs well with a range of different foods, like rich seafood dishes or a charcuterie board of cured meats and mature cheeses.
10 Best Viognier Wines To Buy in 2023 (Including Prices, Tasting Notes)
- 1970 Chateau-Grillet, Rhone, France ($1265)
- 2014 M. Chapoutier Condrieu Coteaux de Chery, Rhone, France ($211)
- 2015 Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, USA ($115)
- 2018 Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier, Yarra, Australia ($108)
- 2015 E. Guigal Condrieu Luminescence, Rhone, France ($171)
- 2017 Château-Grillet Condrieu La Carthery, Rhone, France ($163)
- 2001 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon, Rhone, France ($163)
- 2012 Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Condrieu, Rhone, France ($183)
- 2018 Lismore 'The Age of Grace' Viognier, Greyton, South Africa ($23)
- 2015 Francois Villard Condrieu De Poncins, Rhone, France ($40)
1. 1970 Chateau-Grillet, Rhone, France ($1265)
This classic Viognier is fresh and structured and light yellow in color. It has undertones of Meyer lemon and strong flavors of honeysuckle, pear, and white peach.
2. 2014 M. Chapoutier Condrieu Coteaux de Chery, Rhone, France ($211)
This Rhone varietal is a golden-hued white wine that is bold and floral. It has a bouquet of honeysuckle and ripe peach, with the exotic taste of a tropical fruit basket.
3. 2015 Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, USA ($115)
This new world Viognier has an ABV of 14.2%. Light and delicate, it has smokey and floral notes combined with pear flavors, white peach, and Meyer lemon.
4. 2018 Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier, Yarra, Australia ($108)
This Viognier wine is made from the oldest Viognier vines in Australia! This Viognier is dry, with a slight hint of ripe peach sweetness and a taste of pear and tropical fruit.
5. 2015 E. Guigal Condrieu Luminescence, Rhone, France ($171)
This is another great example of a classic Viognier from Northern Rhône. The wine is fermented and aged inside oak barrels and tastes like honey, white peach, and apricot.
6. 2017 Château-Grillet Condrieu La Carthery, Rhone, France ($163)
Chateau-Grillet produces a wonderful Rhone varietal that’s dry and has low acidity. Instead of the usual stone fruit flavor, you’ll get a citrusy taste with notes of tangerine, ripe peach, and orange blossom.
7. 2001 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon, Rhone, France ($163)
For a French Viognier, this one has a surprisingly high alcohol content of 14%. It is a bold, dry wine with low acidity and is strong on the palate with undertones of nutmeg, apricot, and white peach.
8. 2012 Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Condrieu, Rhone, France ($183)
This delightful wine has a noticeable minerality, with notes of stone fruit and smoke on the palate. This, combined with flavors of apricot, cream, and peach, creates a complex wine.
9. 2018 Lismore 'The Age of Grace' Viognier, Greyton, South Africa ($23)
Here’s a rich, decadent wine with honeysuckle, peach and dried apricot notes and a lingering citrus finish. It has a bright acidity that goes well with the extravagant nose and palate.
10. 2015 Francois Villard Condrieu De Poncins, Rhone, France ($40)
This wine has a rich golden hue, and comes with a rich nose with flowers and exotic fruits. It also has exciting butterscotch and hazelnut notes.
Does Viognier Wine Age Well?
Viognier wines - especially those from Condrieu - are meant to be drunk young as they hit their peak within a couple of years.
However, late harvest Condrieu with higher residual sugar from the top wineries like E. Guigal and Domaine Georges Vernay can age for around 20 years.
Also, a wine made from the grapes of an older Viognier vine has greater aging potential. For example, the vines planted in the Viognier vineyards of the Chateau-Grillet appellation have been around for decades. Chateau Grillet wines can age beautifully for decades.
An Australian or California Viognier can also age pretty well.
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Let’s get into more details - the origins of Viognier, how it is grown, winemaking techniques, and the wine regions.
A Brief History of Viognier
Where the Viognier variety originates from is a much-debated topic! One of the exciting stories is that a group of bandits accosted a boat carrying the grape down the Rhone River near the Condrieu appellation.
Some believe that the Ancient Romans brought the grape variety to Rhone from Dalmatia (present-day Croatia). Regardless of which version of events is true - the Viognier grape ended up in Southern France.
Viognier is notoriously difficult to grow, almost like Pinot Noir, which is why it nearly went extinct in the 1960s. Only a mere 14 hectares of the Viognier grape variety were left - only in the Condrieu appellation and the Chateau-Grillet appellation.
By the 1970s, Viognier began to pick up again, and by the 1990s, production of the white wine grape was booming.
Viognier Viticulture
The Viognier grape variety is tough to grow because the grape tends to develop powdery mildew.
The grape must be picked when it has ripened fully. If it’s picked too early, the winemaker risks missing out on a perfumed aroma and flavor. Too late, and the wine becomes oily and loses its fragrance.
The Viognier grape variety is naturally low in acidity. That’s why Viognier is often blended with the high acidity Syrah grape.
The Viognier Winemaking Process
Viognier goes through a complex winemaking process, which greatly affects the quality and taste of the wine.
Harvesting
To produce a beautiful and clear juice, the grapes are usually picked early in the morning. In the Condrieu appellation, winegrowers use a harvesting technique called à l'assiette where harvesters shake the vine while holding a plate underneath, where the overripe grapes fall.
Fermentation and Alcohol Content
Viognier is known to be white wine with a strong, fragrant aroma. To ensure these floral aromas, winemakers ensure that the wine has an ABV (alcohol by volume) content of 13%.
To reach 13%, the winemaker needs to use large quantities of sugar in the fermentation process.
The majority of Viognier wines are fermented inside stainless steel tanks. However, if the wine is of a richer style, it is more suited to barrel fermentation.
Occasionally, Viognier wine is put through malolactic fermentation, also called secondary fermentation.
Malolactic fermentation happens inside either oak barrels or a stainless steel tank. That’s when the acidity of the wine decreases, and the minerality increases. So, malolactic fermentation gives the wine a rounder and fuller feeling.
Where is Viognier Wine Made? 13 Wine Regions
The Viognier vine is planted all over the world. Each wine region produces a unique Viognier, with France favoring the classic Viognier and the New World wine regions producing a sweeter style.
1. Rhone Valley, France
The Rhone Valley wine region is divided into two subregions - Northern Rhône Valley and Southern Rhone, and the main AOCs are:
- Côte-Rôtie AOC: This is the main appellation in the Northern Rhone Valley. Côte-Rôtie produces 80% Syrah grapes and a minimum of 20% Viognier plantings.
- Condrieu AOC: This AOC in the Northern Rhone valley is the hometown of Viognier. Condrieu produces only Viognier wine.
- Château-Grillet AOC: The Château-Grillet appellation is a single winery of only 3.8 hectares. Like Condrieu, it produces Viognier exclusively.
The most popular Rhône varieties include Grenache Blanc (often used in a white wine blend with Viognier), Marsanne, and Roussanne.
2. Languedoc, France
Languedoc, a coastal region in Southern France, makes up for a third of all French wine production. Even though Languedoc produces the most Viognier in France, it is not an official appellation.
3. Italy
The Piedmont wine region, situated in North-West Italy, started growing Viognier grapes in the 1990s to use as part of blend wines.
4. South Africa
Charles Back, from Fairview Wine Farm in Paarl, was the first to bring Viognier to South Africa. The grape was imported in 1989, and Paarl is still the largest producer of Viognier in the country.
5. California, United States
California is the most successful Viognier producer outside of France. Viognier plantings are most common in the Central Coast, Sonoma and Napa Valley (which also produces Chardonnay).
Vina Robles and the Stefano Vineyard (both in Paso Robles, southern California) produce varietal Viogniers. Tablas Creek, another winery in Paso Robles, produces multiple Northern Rhone valley style wines, including California Viognier.
6. Virginia, United States
In 2011, Viognier was named Virginia’s signature white grape. Dennis Horton, a winemaker from the state, was the one who brought Viognier to Virginia in 1989.
7. Oregon, United States
In Southern Oregon, Viognier has built up a reputation as one of the region’s signature white grape varietals. Southern Oregon has a climate that works well for Viognier.
8. Barossa Valley, Australia
In Barossa Valley of South Australia, Viognier plantings are used mostly in blended wines.
9. Eden Valley, Australia
The Eden Valley wine region is also located in South Australia. It was given the status of an AGI (Australian Geographical Indication) in 1997. Yalumba Winery has Viognier vineyards in Eden Valley, where they produce organic Viognier varietals.
10. Adelaide Hills, Australia
Adelaide Hills is an AGI wine region in South Australia. The most common grape planted in this region is Sauvignon blanc. However, there are a few wineries with Viognier vineyards.
11. Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Located on the North Island, Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest wine region with a few Viognier plantings. Villa Maria wine estate produces a great full-bodied varietal Viognier.
12. Argentina
Viognier was introduced to Argentina in 2003, and now over 720 hectares of the grape variety have been planted. Mendoza produces the majority of the country’s Viognier, with 250 hectares dedicated to the white grape.
13. Chile
The Casablanca region is the focal point for Viognier in Chile, and the area produces a good Viognier varietal wine.
Sip a Refreshing Viognier While Building Your Wine Portfolio!
Viognier is a wonderful dry white wine that can work perfectly well for a lively brunch or a dinner under the stars.
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