Wine Varietals: Viognier

Filed in archive French Wines on March 25, 2008

Viognier, pronounced Vee-on-Yay, is a lesser known white wine grape, originally cultivated in France's Rhone Valley (likely imported there by the Ancient Greeks or Romans). Almost extinct by the 1960s, this difficult-to-grow, but delightful-to-drink wine has made a resurgeance in France and lately in California, Australia, and South Africa.

Viognier is the main grape in the French appellation, Condrieu. It is also found in France and abroad labeled simply as Viognier. It is characterized by a deep, yellow color; a high alcohol content; and pronounced peach, apricot, and mango tones. Viognier is a perfect accompaniment to spicy foods, such as Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines. It also goes well with fish, pork, or chicken that is served with a fruit sauce. Alone, a glass of Viognier is a nice beverage to enjoy as an aperitif on a hot summer's day.

^{(© flickr user: Robw/cc license)}