My love affair with Viognier began only a short handful of years ago. Before moving to the Okanagan in 2016 I’m not sure I’d even heard of the grape varietal and now, I can’t live without it! That makes this wine a pretty good fit for the first grape to score with the High Five Wine Scoring System!
Viognier almost didn’t make it. In fact, in the 1960’s it was nearly completely extinct! Records show that only some 80 acres or so existed in total across the entire world. It’s no wonder I hadn’t come across it in my wine-tasting experiences until moving to a part of the world that grows Viognier. That high-level‘ close call’ would be incredibly tough to come back from, especially for a grape with a lot of demands in order to produce the ever-lovely wine I’ve so fallen in love with.
What happened to this grape? How did it survive?
Phylloxera, which is a micropscopic aphid that eats away at the roots of grape vines, is also known as grape phylloxera. This tiny pest has been known to destroy entire vintages of wine for some wineries, and in this example, nearly wiping out an entire varietal completely. Thankfully there were a few wine industry leaders who took on the valiant effort of reviving Viognier over the last five decades in order to secure its place in the world of wine as one of the great wines, at least I think, everyone should know about.
No matter where you find Viognier, you’ll be in the company of a glass of wine known for its inherently low acidity. If puckering and mouth-watering sensations just aren’t your ‘glass of wine’ (see what I did there?), then perhaps a Viognier just might be right in your wheelhouse. To learn more about the Viognier we scored from the Rhone Valley in France, head to our High Five Wine Academy private Facebook community to catch the replay of our official launch video!
What you can look for from Viognier styles around the world
In cooler climate regions like France, for instance, you might find Viognier to have more citrus notes. They can be crisp, lighter in body and more refreshing.
In warmer climates, like in California, we might see more tropical fruit flavours and experience floral aromas.
Another thing to consider about Viognier is the couple of structural elements that this grape is known for which isn’t affected by a difference in terroir or from vintage to vintage. This grape produces wines with low acidity and high alcohol. Those two elements are set in stone, which provides us with a tasting experience that doesn’t fluctuate much from what a ‘standard’ Viognier is.
That kind of dependability is one heck of a positive in my books.
Now, Viognier is a finicky grape and one growers and winemakers alike have a harder time with. It can be susceptible to rot, requires a long growing season, and ideally appreciates pretty specific soils and a lot of sunshine. Knowing what you get when done right, it certainly (in my humble opinion) is unmatched and worth the effort.
Origin: Croatia, France
- Condrieu, France
- Languedoc, France
- North & South America
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Chile
- Italy
- Washington, USA
- Okanagan Valley, Canada
Aroma & Tasting Note Examples
- Honeysuckle
- Chamomile
- Jasmine
- Violet
- Lime
- Tangerine
- Peach
- Apricot
- Pear
- Melon
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Honey
- Ginger
- Anise
- Almond
- Clove
- Vanilla
Condrieu is only allowed to be made with Viognier grapes in the Rhone Valley
- Peach
- Dried Fruit
- White floral notes
- Typically dry wines
- Full-bodied
Australia
- Apricot
- Nectarine
- Peach
- Lychee
- Almond
- Rose
- Orange Blossom
- Ginger
- High alcohol
- Similar styles in Viognier from California
New Zealand
- Similar in styles to Condrieu Viognier
South Africa
- Similar in styles to Rhone Valley Viognier
California
- Lychee
- Tropical fruit notes
- Perfume (floral)
- Full-bodied
Okanagan Valley
- Delicate floral notes
- Stone fruit
- Melon
- Citrus rind
- Spice
- Medium to full-bodied
If you enjoy Viognier, you might also be inclined to try wines like:
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
Happy Scoring, High Fivers!
XO
Tonia
Tonia
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