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Viognier White Wine Variety
The Viognier wine variety is making a huge impact on the Australian wine industry.
If you are quick you may get onto the band wagon of this wonderful Rhone variety.
There are lots of bargain wines still around.
First a little history.
The Viognier white grape variety was rescued from near extinction just a few decades ago and
is now one of the hottest varietals going around. If you are becoming a little jaded by
Chardonnay and can't quite cop the aggressive characters in Sauvignon blanc then this
variety may be the drink for you. Legend has it that the variety was introduced, along
with Syrah, to the Rhone Valley during the Roman occupation.
After two millennia of barbarian invasions, dark ages, wars and the ravages of time
just a few hectares of Viognier were left by the 1960s. It occupied a small corner of the
Rhone around Condrieu where it made cult wines known only to a small group of enthusiasts.
But the word got out and thanks to modern viticultural techniques Viognier is now widely
planted in the Languedoc and Ardeche in France as well as in Italy, California and Australia.
Viognier's future in the Rhone is now assured.
The wines made from the variety are at their best rich and sensual, in a word voluptuous.
Many plantings are still really only in their experimental phase.
It may take a couple of decades to see the best. In the meantime there may be some disappointments
and variation from year to year. There just isn't enough knowledge and experience
around yet for there to be consistent results from vineyard practices and winemaking technique.
The ripening of the process of the grapes is regarded as idiosyncratic
in this variety. The fruit flavours seem to arrive in a rush at the end of
ripening, so patience and a strong nerve is required to avoid picking too early.
It is therefore quite likely that there will be strong variation from vintage to vintage.
Viognier is increasingly
popular as the white partner in
co-fermentation with Shiraz. Only a small proportion
of the white grapes is used. One Shiraz winemaker from Heathcote district in Central
Victoria reckons that just two percent of Viognier is the optimum amount for
his Shiraz. Other makers are using between five and fifteen percent.
During fermentation the flavour and
colour compound of the two varieties combine. The result is greater depth of flavour and a brighter colour.
The flavour of varietal white
wines made from Viognier are often described using comparisons with the aromas
of flowers, peaches and stone fruits and spices.
Viognier wine is best enjoyed with food, and these dry white wines are robust
enough to be paired with quite aromatic or mildly spiced dishes.
There are some other food pairing ideas in the Albarino to Zinfandel Food Pairing recipe collection.
Viognier wines
will probably age well, but they are very good young so why wait?
Australian wineries
using Viognier include
- Alan and Veitch Adelaide Hills
- Albert River Queensland Coastal
- Aldinga Bay McLaren Vale
- Alkoomi Frankland River
- Allies Wines Mornington Peninsula
- Allusion Wines Southern Fleurieu
- Amulet Vineyard Beechworth
- Anderson Winery Rutherglen
- Andrew Peace Wines Swan Hill
- Angas Vineyards Langhorne Creek
- Angoves Winery Riverland
- Angullong Wines Orange
- Arakoon McLaren Vale
- Arundel Sunbury
- Badgers Brook Yarra Valley Yarra Valley
- Bago Vineyards Hastings River
- Ballandeen Estate Granite Belt
- Bartagunyah Estate Southern Flinders Region
- Barton Estate Canberra
- Barwick Wines Margaret River
- Battely Wines Beechworth
- Battle of Bosworth Wines McLaren Vale
- Battunga Vineyards Adelaide Hills
- Beelgara Estate Riverina
- Belgravia Vineyards Orange
- Bellarine Estate Geelong
- Berton Vineyards Riverina
- Bimbadgen Estate Hunter Valley
- Biscay Wines Barossa Valley
- Blamires Butterfly Crossing Bendigo
- Blue Poles Vineyard Margaret River
- Boireann Granite Belt
- Boyntons Feathertop Alpine Valleys
- Brammar Estate Yarra Valley
- Brindabella Hills Canberra
- Brokenwood Wines Hunter Valley
- Brown Brothers King Valley
- By Farr Geelong
- Calais Estate Hunter Valley
- Campbells Wines Rutherglen
- Cape Mentelle Margaret River
- Capel Vale Geographe
- Carickalinga Creek Southern Fleurieu
- Carilley Estate Swan Valley
- Carlaminda Estate Geographe
- Cascabel McLaren Vale
- Casella Riverina
- Castagna Vineyard Beechworth
- Ceres Bridge Estate Geelong
- Chain of Ponds Adelaide Hills
- Chalice Bridge Estate Margaret River
- Charlies Estate Wines Swan Valley
- Chateau Mildura Murray Darling
- Ciavarella King Valley
- Circo V King Valley
- Claymore Wines Clare Valley
- Clonakilla Canberra
- Cobaw Ridge Macedon Ranges
- Coombe Farm Vineyard Yarra Valley
- Counterpoint Vineyard Pyrenees
- Cow Hill Beechworth
- Craneford Barossa Valley
- Creed of Barossa Barossa Valley
- Currans Family Wines Murray Darling
- Cypress Post Granite Belt
- D'Arenberg McLaren Vale
- Darling Park Mornington Peninsula
- David Hook Wines Hunter Valley
- De Beaurepaire Wines Mudgee
- de Mestre Wines Mudgee
- Deakin Estate Murray Darling
- Diamond Valley Vineyards Yarra Valley
- Djinta Djinta Gippsland
- DogRidge McLaren Vale
- Domain Day Barossa Valley
- Dos Rios Swan Hill
- Dyson Wines McLaren Vale
- Eaglerange Wines Alpine Valleys
- Eden Hall Eden Valley
- Elgee Park Mornington Peninsula
- Evans Family Wines Hunter Valley
- Farrell Estate Murray Darling
- First Creek Hunter Valley
- Flying Duck Estate King Valley
- Flynn's Wines Heathcote
- Fonty's Pool Vineyards Pemberton
- Fox Gordon Barossa Valley
- Francois Jacquard Perth Hills
- Frankland Estate Frankland River
- Freeman Vineyards Hilltops
- Galvanized Wine Group McLaren Vale
- Gelland Estate Mudgee
- Gemtree Vineyards McLaren Vale
- Geoff Merrill McLaren Vale
- Gherardi Wines Margaret River
- Ghost Riders Vineyard Hunter Valley
- Giant Steps Yarra Valley
- Grant Burge Barossa Valley
- Gregory's Wines The Peninsulas
- Grove Estate Wines Hilltops
- Gundowringla Wines Alpine Valleys
- Haan Barossa Valley
- Hamiltons Bluff Cowra
- Happs Margaret River
- Harris River Estate Geographe
- Hartley Estate Perth Hills
- Haselgrove McLaren Vale
- Hastwell and Lightfoot McLaren Vale
- Haywards of Locksley Strathbogie Ranges
- Heafod Glen Winery Swan Valley
- Heartland Vineyard Hunter Valley
- Heartland Wines Limestone Coast
- Heathcote Winery Heathcote
- Heggies Vineyard Eden Valley
- Heidenriech Estate Barossa Valley
- Helen's Hill Estate Yarra Valley
- Henley Hill Yarra Valley
- Henschke Eden Valley
- Hently Farm Wines Barossa Valley
- Hotham Ridge Winery Central Western Australian Zone
- House of Certain Views Hunter Valley
- Hugh Hamilton McLaren Vale
- Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley
- Izway Wines Barossa Valley
- Jarrah Ridge Winery Perth Hills
- Jeir Creek Canberra
- Jimbour Wines Queensland Zone
- Kalgan River Wines Albany
- Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley
- Kamberra Canberra
- Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale
- Kay Bros Amery McLaren Vale
- Keith Tulloch Wine Hunter Valley
- Kidman Coonawarra Wines Coonawarra
- Kilikanoon Clare Valley
- Killara Estate Yarra Valley
- Kindred Spirit Wines Strathbogie Ranges
- King River Estate King Valley
- Kingston Estate Riverland
- Kirrihill Adelaide Hills
- Kirwans Bridge Wines Nagambie Lakes
- Koltz McLaren Vale
- Kouark Gippsland
- Ladbroke Grove Coonawarra
- Lady Bay Winery Southern Fleurieu
- Lamonts Central Western Australian Zone
- Langanook Wines Bendigo
- Langmeil Barossa Valley
- Lanzthomson Wines Barossa Valley
- Lark Hill Winery Canberra
- Lashmar Kangaroo Island
- Lerida Estate Canberra
- Lethbridge Wines Geelong
- Lillian Pemberton
- Linda Domas Wines McLaren Vale
- Lindenton Wines Heathcote
- Little's Winery Hunter Valley
- Little River Wines Swan Valley
- Little Wine Company Hunter Valley
- Logan Wines Mudgee
- Longview Vineyard Adelaide Hills
- Louee Wines Mudgee
- M. Chapoutier Australia Mount Benson
- Macquarie Grove Vineyards Western Plains
- Margan Family Hunter Valley
- Mary Byrnes Wines Granite Belt
- mas serrat Yarra Valley
- Mason Wines Granite Belt
- Mason Wines Granite Belt
- Maxwell Wines McLaren Vale
- McCuskers Vineyard Perth Hills
- McHenry Hohnen Margaret River
- McIvor Creek Heathcote
- McKellar Ridge Canberra
- McPherson Wines Nagambie Lakes
- Meera Park Hunter Valley
- Merum Pemberton
- Metier Wines Yarra Valley
- Millbrook Winery Perth Hills
- Mitchelton Nagambie Lakes
- Mount Appallan Vineyards South Burnett
- Mount Buffalo Vineyard Alpine Valleys
- Mount Burrumboot Estate Heathcote
- Mount Camel Ridge Estate Heathcote
- Mount Cole Wineworks Grampians
- Mount Surmon Clare Valley
- Mount Trio Vineyard Porongurup
- Mountadam Eden Valley
- Mr Riggs Wine Company McLaren Vale
- Mulyan Cowra
- Munari Heathcote
- Mundoonen Canberra
- Murray Darling Collection Murray Darling
- Murray Street Vineyard Barossa Valley
- Myattsfield Vineyard and Winery Perth Hills
- Myrtle Vale Vineyard Upper Goulburn
- Nalbra Estate Geelong
- Neqtar Wines Murray Darling
- Noorilim Estate Goulburn Valley
- Normanby Wines Queensland Zone
- Nursery Ridge Murray Darling
- Oakover Estate Swan Valley
- Oatley Wines Mudgee
- Orange Mountain Orange
- Organic Vignerons Australia Riverland
- Paracombe Wines Adelaide Hills
- Parri Estate Southern Fleurieu
- Patterson Lakes Estate Port Phillip Zone
- Peerick Vineyard Pyrenees
- Pelican's Landing Maritime Wines Southern Fleurieu
- Penny's Hill McLaren Vale
- Pennyfield Wines Riverland
- Pepper Tree Wines Hunter Valley
- Pepperilly Estate Wines Geographe
- Petaluma Adelaide Hills
- Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee
- Pettavel Geelong
- Philip Shaw Orange
- Phoenix Estate Clare Valley
- Pikes Clare Valley
- Pinnacle Wines Orange
- Plan B Margaret River
- Plunkett Fowles Strathbogie Ranges
- Poachers Ridge Vineyards Mount Barker
- Pondalowie Bendigo
- Possums Vineyard McLaren Vale
- Pothana Hunter Valley
- Prince of Orange Orange
- Printhie Wines Orange
- Protero Adelaide Hills
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland
- Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees
- Ralph Fowler Wines Mount Benson
- Ravensworth Wines Canberra
- Redbank Victoria King Valley
- Rees Miller Estate Upper Goulburn
- Ridgemill Estate Granite Belt
- Ridgeview Wines Hunter Valley
- Riverbank Estate Swan Valley
- Robert Johnson Vineyards Eden Valley
- Roberts Estate Murray Darling
- Rocky Passes Wines Upper Goulburn
- Romavilla Roma
- Roundstone Winery Yarra Valley
- Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen
- Salisbury Winery Murray Darling
- Saltram Barossa Valley
- Sanguine Estate Heathcote
- Scion Vineyard Rutherglen
- Seabrook Wines Barossa
- Seven Ochres Vineyard Margaret River
- Seven Ochres Margaret River
- Sevenhill Wines Clare Valley
- Shadowfax Vineyard and Winery Geelong
- Shelmerdine Heathcote
- Sieber Road Wines Barossa Valley
- Sirromet Queensland Coastal
- Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek
- Snobs Creek Wines Upper Goulburn
- Solstice Mount Torrens Vineyards Adelaide Hills
- Southern Highland Wines Southern Highlands
- Spence's Vineyard Geelong
- Spinifex Barossa Valley
- Spoehr Creek Wines Adelaide Hills
- SpringLane Yarra Valley
- St Leonards Rutherglen
- Steinborner Family Vineyards Barossa
- Stella Bella Margaret River
- Sticks Yarra Valley
- Stone Ridge Granite Belt
- Stonehaven Padthaway
- Stuart Wines Heathcote
- Sugarloaf Ridge Southern Tasmania
- Sutherlands Creek Vineyard Geelong
- Sutton Grange Winery Bendigo
- Swings & Roundabouts Margaret River
- Symphonia King Valley
- Symphony Hill Wines Granite Belt
- Syrahmi Heathcote
- T'Gallant Mornington Peninsula
- Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes
- Tall Poppy Murray Darling
- Tallarook Wines Upper Goulburn
- Tallis Wine Company Goulburn Valley
- Taltarni Pyrenees
- Tamar Ridge Northern Tasmania
- Tanglewood Vines Blackwood Valley
- Tapestry McLaren Vale
- Tatachilla McLaren Vale
- Tawonga Vineyard Alpine Valleys
- Taylors Clare Valley
- Temple Bruer Langhorne Creek
- Terra Felix Upper Goulburn
- The Islander Estate Vineyards Kangaroo Island
- The Lane Adelaide Hills
- The Pawn Wine Company Langhorne Creek
- The Ritual Peel
- The Standish Wine Company Barossa Valley
- Three Moon Creek Queensland Zone
- Tiltili Wines Langhorne Creek
- Tim Smith Wines Barossa Valley
- Torbreck Vintners Barossa Valley
- Trentham Estate Murray Darling
- Turners Crossing Vineyard Bendigo
- Valhalla Wines Rutherglen
- Veritas Barossa Valley
- Vincognita McLaren Vale
- Vinea Marson Heathcote
- Vintara Rutherglen
- W Wine of Mudgee Mudgee
- Wallington Wines Cowra
- Wandoo Farm Central Western Australian Zone
- Wanted Man Heathcote
- Waratah Vineyard Queensland Zone
- Watershed Wines Margaret River
- Waurn Ponds Estate Geelong
- Wedgetail Ridge Estate Darling Downs
- West Cape Howe Wines Denmark
- Westend Estate Riverina
- Western Range Wines Perth Hills
- Westgate Vineyard Grampians
- Westlake Vineyards Barossa
- Whale Coast Wines Southern Fleurieu
- Whistling Eagle Wines Heathcote
- Whitsend Estate Yarra Valley
- Whyworry Wines New England
- Willow Bridge Estate Geographe
- Wills Domain Vineyard Margaret River
- Willunga 100 Wines McLaren Vale
- Winbirra Vineyard Mornington Peninsula
- Winewood Granite Belt
- Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale
- Wombats Run King Valley
- Wovenfield Geographe
- Yalumba Wine Company Barossa Valley
- Yangarra Estate McLaren Vale
- Yarra Yarra Yarra Valley
- Yarra Yering Yarra Valley
- Yarraloch Yarra Valley
- Yengari Wine Company Beechworth
- Yering Station Yarra Valley
- Zilzie Wines Murray Darling
- Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek
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