Wine Dictionary – Viognier
Many guides differ slightly when giving the pronunciation of this native Rhone Valley white grape. Some say vee-own-yay, while others say vee-on-yay. Vee-on-yay with a short o is actually the correct way to pronounce it. But hey, it’s all good no matter how you say it.
This awesome white grape that was originally born in the Rhone Valley of France is now being planted all over the globe. In it’s native France, the majority of Viogniers are sold as “Vin de Pays“, or “country wine” in the Languedoc wine region of France. In the Rhone wine region, the Viognier grape is often blended with other native French white wine grapes like Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache blanc, and Rolle. Finally, in Northern Rhone, Viognier is sometimes blended with the Chardonnay grape.
Most Viogniers exhibit a rich, flower shop aroma that is similar to the Torrontes white grape from Argentina. Most also have an apricot and citrusy flavor. They’re usually made in a dry style with a hint of sweetness, and leave the oak in the woods where it belongs.
Viognier is a great summer sipping wine. It partners very nicely with a variety of different foods and I really think it goes great with spicy ethnic dishes, too. In addition, this white wine is also pretty darn good with soft French cheeses, such as Brie.
One piece of advice to remember when considering purchasing a bottle of Viognier – buy the youngest ones that you can find. Most Viogniers don’t typically age very well.
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Tags: French Wine, Varietals Guide, Viognier, White Wine, Wine and Food Pairings, Wine Dictionary, wine reference, wine terms
