Viognier
The second most planted white grape variety in the Rhône Valley, and star grape variety of the northernmost wines of Condrieu and Château-Grillet: Viognier is renowned for its finesse, its elegance, and its captivating bouquet of fresh yellow fruits. Its history has undergone many twists and turns since it almost disappeared... Originally, it was exclusively cultivated in the northern Côtes du Rhône (from Vienne to Valence), before becoming one of the most popular grape varieties at the end of the 20th century, in California and Australia.
Contents
Informations
Origin: Northern Rhône Valley
Location within the Rhône Valley: Northern Crus and Southern Rhône Valley
Plantings within the Rhône Valley AOCs: About1 500 hectares
In the vineyards
Ampelography: Small leaves. The grape variety is recognizable by its petiolar sinus “V-shaped like Viognier”.
Bunch and berries: Small, compact clusters with small berries. The grapes have a greenish tint, which turns brown when overripe.
Maturity: Early-budding and very early-ripening
Terroir: Late, cool or high altitude terroirs, but also adapts to hot terroirs provided there is a good water reserve.
In the cellars
Characteristics: Viognier is distinguished by its intense and typical varietal aromatic bouquet: yellow fruits, spices, dried fruits... Its wines are fine, creamy, supple and complex, which can have a strong aging potential. In the cellar, the musts are fragile, sensitive to oxidation and “pinking”.
Wine styles: Still dry white wines