\r\n\r\nViognier is a white wine grape variety known to produce full-bodied white wines of depth and profound flavor. It\u2019s a unique grape variety in that it\u2019s surprisingly aromatic and perfumy despite being a traditionally dry wine. The premier white wine grape of Northern Rh\u00f4ne, France<\/a><\/strong>, Viognier wines can be difficult to craft since there is only a brief window when they can be harvested to acquire to best aromas and flavors. If not allowed to ripen fully, the grapes can have low acidity. When overripe, their distinctive floral aromas disappear.\r\n\r\nViognier vines require sunny days over a long moderately warm growing season to attain optimal ripeness. Yields can also be relatively uneven and unpredictable.\r\n\r\nIN THIS GUIDE:<\/strong>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Taste<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
- Pairings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
- Terroir<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
- Aging<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
- Wine Recommendations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
- ...and more<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n<\/a>What Does Viognier Taste Like? <\/strong><\/h2>\r\nViognier produces a full-bodied, aromatic wine that classically displays stone fruit notes like peach and apricot, with some tropical fruit notes in there as well. For this reason, Chardonnay lovers tend to also enjoy Viognier, particularly if they\u2019re looking to move away from butter and toasty notes.\r\n\r\nViognier can also display distinctive stoniness in its core, with the heady floral aromas evident from the first sniff. There can also be more savory floral notes like petunia, zinnia, or geranium.\r\n
<\/a>Viognier Food Pairings<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nBecause of its full-bodied structure and rich fruit-forward flavor, the best Viogniers traditionally pair well with heavier fish and shellfish. Teriyaki salmon and Parmigiano-Reggiano risotto are also ideal pairings.\r\n\r\nThai food, like General Tso's chicken, works nicely being both a sweet and spicy dish. Crispy oyster bites basked in spicy aioli and mango-poblano pico bring out the fruit of Viognier well. Beyond seafood, four cheese pasta, risotto, teriyaki chicken, salmon, and grilled poultry all work beautifully.\r\n
<\/a>Climate and Terroir for Viognier<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nViognier prefers a warm climate, partially due to its thick skin that requires extra heat to fully ripen. It can be rather fickle and prone to mildew, and it requires careful attention during ripening to make sure sugar and acidity levels are adequately balanced. Viognier vines require sunny days over a long moderately warm growing season to attain optimal ripeness. Yields can also be relatively uneven and unpredictable.\r\n\r\nHistorically the main white grape of the Rh\u00f4ne Valley, Viogniers can also be found in California \u2013 particularly in the Central Coast where Rh\u00f4ne grapes thrive \u2013 Australia, Chile<\/a><\/strong>, and even in New York's Finger Lakes region<\/a><\/strong>.\r\n
<\/a>How is Viognier Aged? <\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWhen harvested with higher acidity levels, Viognier can age well for years. Chateau Grillet<\/a><\/strong>, the only appellation that is also only one producer in France, produces some of the best Viogniers in the world and they are very age-worthy. Similarly, neighboring Condrieu produces age-worthy Viogniers. At lower price points, most Viogniers are meant to be drunk young.\r\n
<\/a>Try these fantastic Viognier wine recommendations from around the world:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Ch\u00e2teau Grillet<\/a><\/strong>, Ch\u00e2teau Grillet, Rh\u00f4ne, France<\/li>\r\n \t
- Domaine de la Janasse, \u2018Principaut d\u2019Orange,\u2019<\/strong><\/a> Rh\u00f4ne, France<\/li>\r\n \t
- Stags\u2019 Leap Winery, Napa Valley<\/a><\/strong>, France<\/li>\r\n \t
- Cambria, Tepusquet Vineyard<\/strong><\/a>, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California<\/li>\r\n \t
- Yaluma, \u2018The Virgilius,\u2019<\/strong><\/a> Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia<\/li>\r\n \t
- Pindar<\/strong>, North Fork of Long Island, New York<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Learn About These Other Wine Grape Varieties<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Chardonnay<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nChenin Blanc<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nCabernet Sauvignon<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nMalbec<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nMarsanne<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nNebbiolo<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nPetit Verdot<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nPinot Grigio<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nPinot Meunier<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\r\nRiesling<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nTannat<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\nTeroldego<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nWritten By Jamie Metzgar<\/strong>\r\nJamie Elizabeth Metzgar began her career in wine by pouring in a tasting room on the East End of Long Island, NY. After moving to New York City, she landed a position at Chambers Street Wines where she was encouraged to pursue wine education at the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). She earned Level III certification there and has since earned California Wine Appellation Specialist and Certified Specialist of Wine certifications as well. After way too many moves, she has recently landed in Northern California where she is compiling an unofficial roster of dog-friendly tasting rooms.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n[jetpack_subscription_form title=\"Get Articles Like These Directly in Your Inbox!\" subscribe_text=\"Subscribe to Winetraveler and receive notifications when new articles are published.\" subscribe_button=\"Sign Me Up!\"]","post_title":"Viognier","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"viognier-wine-grape-characteristics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-04-03 15:46:42","post_modified_gmt":"2023-04-03 19:46:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/uncategorized\/viognier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"grape","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1874,"post_author":"3","post_date":"2018-03-08 16:52:07","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-08 16:52:07","post_content":"\nEditor's Note:<\/strong> Winetraveler is a reader-supported publication and this article may contain affiliate links. We review and recommend all products independently. When you buy wine through our site, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chardonnay is a white wine grape variety native to Burgundy, France. It\u2019s currently the most popular white wine grape variety in the world and can have a diverse flavor profile depending on where it\u2019s grown and if oak is used during the aging process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a>What Does Chardonnay Taste Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chardonnay can be lean and acidic or rich and buttery depending on a variety of terroir and vinification conditions. In general, it can be leaner and brighter when it\u2019s from cooler regions like Burgundy<\/strong> and richer and more fruit-forward when it\u2019s from hotter regions like Napa<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Classic notes that can be found in Chardonnays are apple, pear, lemon, apricot, ginger, melon, papaya, and white floral notes. When it\u2019s aged in oak or undergoes malolactic fermentation, there can also be buttery-toasty notes, which can sometimes be confused with flavors inherently found in the grape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, the heavy-handed use of oak led some wine drinkers to abandon Chardonnay altogether, which is a shame since it shows beautifully when the oak notes are well integrated. Fermenting and aging in steel tanks can elicit the purer notes inherent to Chardonnay without intrusive oak notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chardonnay](\"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/chardonnay-vines-in-burgundy-winetraveler.jpg\")
<\/a>Aerial perspective of Chardonnay vines in Burgundy, France.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Chardonnay Food Pairings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to pairings, think about the weight of the dish and the weight of the wine. Those brighter, more acidic Chardonnays work beautifully with seafood, including firm white fish, salmon, lobster, mussels, and shrimp. Avoid overly spicy sauces that overpower the fruit of the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richer Chardonnays also work well with poultry and pork, particularly those with creamy or buttery sauces. Chardonnay also loves pasta dishes like alfredo or primavera. Due to the apple notes of richer Chardonnays, it pairs naturally with autumnal produce like roasted pumpkin and Brussel sprouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Climate and Terroir for Chardonnay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chardonnay hails from the Burgundy region of France<\/a><\/strong>, where it is arguably still at its finest. The limestone-rich soil with fossil deposits lends the distinctive minerality that can be found in white Burgundies, particularly Chablis<\/a><\/strong>. Chardonnay is one of the grapes that make up sparkling wines in neighboring Champagne<\/a><\/strong> and can be found in small plantings in other regions of France like the Loire Valley<\/a><\/strong>. It also can work well in Italy<\/a><\/strong> because it can thrive in a variety of climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside of Europe, Chardonnay has flourished in California<\/strong>, particularly in Sonoma<\/a><\/strong> and Santa Barbara County<\/strong>. It also has worked well in New York State, both on Long Island<\/a><\/strong> and along the Niagara Escarpment<\/a><\/strong>, and throughout Oregon<\/a><\/strong> and Washington<\/a><\/strong>. Chile<\/a><\/strong> and Argentina<\/a><\/strong> have also produced some lovely examples on Chardonnay, though they do tend to be on the more buttery side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How is Chardonnay Aged? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its naturally high acidity, Chardonnay is very age-worthy, particularly when it\u2019s from cooler regions that help maintain the higher acidity levels. As it ages, that zippy acidity breaks down and evolves into softer, more nuanced wines. Though commonly aged in oak, it\u2019s not necessary to do so because steel tanks or stone cisterns allow the wine to age without imparting an oak influence. When aged in oak, newer oak will have the strongest influence while older barrels will soften the wine and impart a more subtle oak flavor (if detectable at all).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best Chardonnays can age for decades, as can the best Champagnes. Most inexpensive Chardonnays are meant to be enjoyed more immediately, though even they can age a bit if the acidity levels are high enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Recommended Chardonnay Wines to Buy Online from Around the World <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Liquid Farm \u2018Golden Slope\u2019 Chardonnay<\/a><\/strong>, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hanzell Chardonnay<\/strong><\/a>, Sonoma Valley, California<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees<\/strong><\/a>, Beaujolais Blanc, Beaujolais, France<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Domaine Christian Moreau, Chablis<\/strong><\/a>, Burgundy, France<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pio Cesare, \u2018L\u2019Altro\u2019 Chardonnay<\/strong><\/a>, Piedmont, Italy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- El Enemigo Chardonnay<\/strong><\/a>, Mendoza, Argentina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions about Chardonnay Wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Hanzell Chardonnay<\/strong><\/a>, Sonoma Valley, California<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Domaine de la Janasse, \u2018Principaut d\u2019Orange,\u2019<\/strong><\/a> Rh\u00f4ne, France<\/li>\r\n \t
- Pairings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t