viognier

Originally, this white grape variety comes from the northern Rhône. But in the last decade it has been increasingly grown in the southern Rhône and Languedoc. It is most successfully grown in the tiny appellations of Château-Grillet and Condrieu on granitic soils. It is also grown in the Côte Rôtie, where it adds aromatic richness to wines when blended with Syrah. The same approach is taken by the Australians, where small quantities of Viognier are blended with Shiraz. Viognier at its single varietal best has a very characteristic peach and honeysuckle aroma. This grape variety has great potential in the cooler overseas wine countries of New Zealand and Canada.