Viognier; Vionnier
[vee-oh-NYAY]
An esteemed white-wine grape that was once very rare because of the limited acreage planted throughout the world. Its low yield and susceptibility to vineyard DISEASES made Viognier wines extremely difficult to find. This has all changed in the last decade as Viognier became very popular and growers around the world have been adding it to their vineyards. This grape gained its distinguished reputation from the northern RHÔNE wines of CHÂTEAU-GRILLET and CONDRIEU. Connoisseurs crave these intense, DRY white wines with vibrant floral qualities and an intriguing BOUQUET reminiscent of apricots, peaches, and pears. Within the CÔTE RÔTIE vineyards, a small amount of Viognier is interplanted with SYRAH, a red grape. The Viognier grapes are harvested and vinified with the Syrah to produce the highly valued CÔTE-RÔTIE red wines. It’s extremely rare for France to sanction officially the use of a white grape in such high-quality red wines. California has gone from less than 100 acres in the early 1990s to over 2,000 acres with Calera Wine Company and Joseph Phelps Vineyards being early innovators with this variety. Similar interest in this variety has taken place in the LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON region of France and in parts of Australia, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and South America.
Related Links:
Condrieu AC, Cô, Temecula AVA, Dunnigan Hills AVA
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.
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