05/25/05 Viognier

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran, and today we are going to discuss a grape varietal that has become very fashionable. Join me after this break as we explore Viognier. Viognier spelled v-i-o-g-n-i-e-r hales from Condrieu in the northern part of the French Rhone Valley. Recently it has gained great popularity and is now grown in most of the major wine growing regions of the world. It is a white grape that yields a very aromatic wine that is lovely, not only on its own, but it lends itself well to blending. It sometimes adds aroma to the famous wines of Cote Rotie by blending just a touch with its main grape varietal Syrah. Viognier has experienced a recent surge in interest by wine drinkers in the United States and more and more of it is being planted here in response. Viognier is not a grape that lends itself to very cold climates, so it will be interesting to see how the various growing regions and their styles will differ. The wine that is produced by this grape is usually elegant and somewhat exotic. It has a very distinct fragrance that is quite pleasing. Some say honeysuckle, some say musk, I say just smell it and enjoy it. I have had Viognier that was blended with Chardonnay that was excellent. It just seems as though everyone is in the viognier business these days. Just for fun, I recommend putting together a tasting of Viognier from California, France, Australia and Washington state. It is a lovely food wine so don't hesitate to follow your tasting with a dinner. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.