Grape varieties

Viognier: The ultimate grape guide

Viognier; the ultimate grape guide

What does it taste like?

  • Heady
  • Aromatic
  • Apricots
  • Peach Kernels
  • White Flowers
  • Jasmine
  • Violets

Where does it come from?

Interestingly, viognier is used in small proportions to add aromatics and lift to some of the denser syrah-based red wines of Côte-Rôtie. It is rarely used in proportions of more than five per cent though.

Just south of this appellation is Condrieu, the grape's heartland. Here some of the finest white wines in France are produced entirely from viognier. The best sites are sheltered and south-east facing, allowing the vine enough ripening time to fully develop its heady, blossom-laden aroma. The wines are complex, perfumed, and full-bodied, with noticeable alcohol and aromas and flavours of peaches, apricots and apple blossom.


They are distinct in character for several reasons, not least their ability to drink well young. Indeed, few Condrieus are made with anything other than mid-term ageing in mind. This is partly attributable to the fact that many vines are still quite young with very few more than 25 years old.

An exception that proves the rule is Château-Grillet. An enclave within Condrieu, it is one of France's smallest appellations and consists entirely of one eponymous property. Orientated to maximise exposure to the sun and shelter from northerly winds, its viognier is harvested earlier than Condrieu's. The resultant wine, less headily perfumed and slightly more restrained, can develop in bottle for decades.

For other white wines from the northern Rhône, viognier is frequently blended with marsanne and roussanne, and indeed it often takes a back seat in terms of the percentage used. Whites from appellations such as Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc and Lirac (in the south) offer a mature style of white wine, ideal for accompanying food. The flavours are buttery, full-bodied and with a nutty quality imparted by oak barrels. The addition of marsanne contributes body and substance whilst roussanne adds acidity and aroma.

View our Rhone viognier wines

In the 1980s the vineyards of southern France were often referred to as 'the new world at the heart of the old', referring in particular to the attitude of the growers who were keen to experiment and make wines that consumers wanted to drink. Taking advantage of the more relaxed vin de pays regulations, some growers were quick to recognise the potential of viognier as 'the next big thing.' But the single-varietal wines were often lacking in acidity and while having characteristic hedonistic aroma, didn't deliver much depth of flavour. When blended with grenache blanc, chardonnay, marsanne or roussanne, the grape becomes far more interesting though, creating intriguing wines worthy of greater exploration, particularly in the vineyards of the Roussillon. None of the wines can match the finesse and complexity of Condrieu though.

View our Languedoc viognier wines

The cooler northern enclaves of Napa and Sonoma are home to the production of California viognier. Wines here still demonstrate the heady, perfumed character that they exhibit in the northern Rhône but take on more of a tropical dimension, reminiscent of lychees. The alcohol is usually higher but it tends to work in situ, balanced by the full-bodied, unctuous and rich nature of the wines.

View our American viognier wines

The focal point of Chilean viognier production is in the cool-climate region of Casablanca. At their best, these wines exhibit fresh, zippy qualities quite different from the more viscous wines of France and America. Laden with tropical fruit, peach and apricot flavours, they are intense on the nose and the palate, with high alcohol and acidity levels. Quality continues to soar.

View our Chilean viognier wines

The Australians were quick to realise the potential and attraction of the viognier grape suited as it is to their warm climate. However, they soon discovered that when it gets too warm, the grape quickly becomes overripe and the wines heavy and cloying. Some winemakers counteract this by adding acidity in the winery but the wines can sometimes lack poise and elegance. There are some brilliant wines being made though with some of the best examples coming from Yalumba, pioneers of this grape, in the relatively cool Eden Valley and from the another family firm, Tahbilk in upper Victoria.

Yalumba were among the first to work with viognier in Australia carrying out pioneering work with the grape in their own vine nursery.

South Australia is widely regarded as the best location for the perfumed wines produced from viognier, with many producers emulating the style found in the northern Rhône. The best wines are from regions in South Austraila where oceanic influences allow enough coolness to provide finesse and elegance, whilst the heat ensures full ripening and flavour development. Often viognier is blended with marsanne to produce an intensely rich white wine, full of perfume and tropical-fruit flavours.

New Zealand's North Island, specifically Hawkes Bay, also provides such a combination of heat and sea breezes. The resultant viogniers do not generally have as much body as their Australian counterparts however, the best maintaining lively acidity with wonderfully aromatic fruit flavours instead.

View our Australian vigonier wines

View our New Zealand viognier wines

It is perhaps not surprising that viognier is increasingly fashionable in South Africa, a country that has embraced other Rhône-style blends and it is used both to add perfume to reds, as in the northern Rhône, and to add aromatic lift and texture to the whites. Some growers are making pure varietal wines, often using a little oak to round out the flavours and impart structure. Once again the most successful wines come from vineyards that have good heat but benefit from the cooling influence of altitude or sea breezes.

View our South African viognier wines

What style of white wine is viognier?

‘Sensuous’, ‘hedonistic’ and ‘seductive’ ? the words used to describe this characterful grape can be quite racy, but viognier lovers adore the full-bodied, floral and ripe-fruited characteristics that makes these wines so distinctive. But viognier isn’t all style over substance: good examples will have real complexity underpinning the flamboyance. Expect perfumed notes of peaches, apricots and apple blossom and noticeable alcohol.

Because viognier needs lots of warmth to ripen and develop fully, striking the balance between its delicate, floral quality, rich texture and high alcohol levels presents a challenge to winemakers. But, when they get it right, the results can be stunning.

Where should I start with viognier?

Old world: Viognier comes from the northern Rhône and is where its most famous expressions are made. The grape flourishes on the steep slopes above the village of Condrieu.

Frequently in the Rhône (and further south), viognier is blended with marsanne and roussanne to create a softer, lighter style; it is also occasionally co-fermented with syrah in Côte-Rôtie to help stabilise the colour and add perfume to the red wine.

New World: A few decades ago viognier barely existed outside the northern Rhône. But a surge of interest in the 1980s meant it quickly spread round the vineyards of the world. Growers love a challenge and this heady, difficult-to-master grape proved hard to resist!

South Australia makes perfumed viognier in the northern Rhône style. The best come from near the coast where oceanic influences allow enough coolness to provide finesse and elegance, whilst the heat ensures full ripening and flavour development.

You can also find lovely examples from the cooler northern enclaves of Napa and Sonoma in California. Wines here still demonstrate the heady, perfumed character of northern Rhône styles but take on more of a tropical dimension, reminiscent of lychees.

The focal point of Chilean viognier is in the cool-climate region of Casablanca. Expect fresh, zippy qualities quite different from the more viscous wines of France and America.

New Zealand's North Island, specifically Hawke’s Bay, also provides such a combination of heat and sea breezes. The best maintaining lively acidity with wonderfully aromatic fruit flavours.

In South Africa is used both to add perfume to reds, as in the northern Rhône, and to add aromatic lift and texture to the whites. Some growers are making pure varietal wines, often using a little oak to round out the flavours and impart structure. Once again the most successful wines come from vineyards that have good heat but benefit from the cooling influence of altitude or sea breezes.

Apart from some plantings in the northern Rhône, the attractively perfumed viognier grape had virtually disappeared until it suddenly became trendy in the mid 1980s. It likes warmth so it's no surprise that it found its way to Australia and California where those growers that managed to tame its tendency to heady fruit make some brilliant examples.
Pierre Mansour
Rosie Allen

The Society's Brand Marketing Manager

Rosie Allen

Rosie joined the team in 2016 and oversees all our content including 1874 magazine and Discovery pages.

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