Winecast: Viognier

All you need to know to get you started with Viognier.

[@bmohr7049]

What a coincidence. I was in France this week and found a wine bar serving a 2015 Tardieu Laurent Condrieu by the glass. I've only had California Viognier previously so this was my first Condrieu. What a treat! The wine had been aged in new oak for 10 months which contributed delicious toasty sweetness to the gorgeous strong stone fruit and floral aromatics. Thanks for wine casting this under rated grape!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Sounds like a delicious Condrieu! Great that you were able to find a by the glass pour. Thanks for taking the time to watch the cast and write in. Cheers!

[@TC-lw2rp]

Thank you for another great cast! Pouring Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc / Viognier blend today.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Fantastic! I'm not even sure Ridge knows how to make a bad wine, so enjoy your bottle! Cheers!

[@Underneaththebottle]

Such a underrated grape variety! Really want to get my hands on Ch. Grillet. So hard to get by 😅Great video as always, you keep delivering 👌

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks and thanks as always for all of your support. Let me know when you score a Ch. Grillet -- I'd love to hear your take on it. Cheers!

[@elizabethhigley8726]

Great video! Love this variety too. It's actually proving to grow quite well out here in North Carolina as well, though like you said, it is quite finicky on the vineyard (specifically with yield being VERY inconsistent). I saw some great examples of Viognier at the latest Wine and Grape Growers Conference for NC Wine coming from the Yadkin Valley AVA and Swan Creek AVA (within the Yadkin Valley) so be sure to keep an eye out! Virginia seems to have adopted this variety but keep an eye out for Petit Manseng here in NC. Thanks for all your videos :)

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for the information. I know very little about NC's industry, so it's intriguing to hear about Petit Manseng there. I will have to keep an eye out! Cheers!

[@fred541]

Great video, thank you. Watching this whilst drinking a very nice viognier, Blonde on Blonde from Inkwell wines from McLaren Vale!

[@WineOnTheDime]

Viognier is my favorite varietal for white wines. I like New World and Old World preps of it but prefer the more floral, pear/apricot, and mineral preps of the Old World. It's hard to go to an established Texas winery that doesn't have their own take on it. Unfortunately for me, this year a lot of the wineries are orienting themselves to the New World prep (stone fruit and citrus) so I have been looking to find some that product in the prep I prefer. Great video!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks! I thought about you when I was researching the vid and came across statistics for TX's commitment to the grape since it seems that whenever you review a TX white, it's either a Viognier or features it in the blend. Speaking of TX, my schedule for Austin is all sorted out, and I'll shoot it to you in a PM before the end of the day. Hoping we can connect! Cheers!

[@WineOnTheDime]

Awesome! I'll keep an eye out for it.

[@changfachou]

Thank you. Great information as always.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks! I really appreciate hearing that. Cheers!

[@brianbennett2397]

Wonderful video! Please keep it up!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thank you! Glad it's helpful. Cheers!

[@JackRosei]

Ascheri Piemont, beautifull viognier producer!

[@BigMoneyMeechh]

another great vid! thanks a bunch!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!

[@danylodombrougov9449]

Thanks so much for this video. Would you make a video about Basque country wines such as Txakoli?

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

I've been thinking about Basque grapes for a while now. Let me see what I can do. Cheers!

[@user-si3wi3fd5i]

The Unknown Winecaster yes, please 😌. It will be very interesting for sure.

[@RK-tj3tw]

You should try to hunt down the king of shiraz viognier in australia...clonakilla...cool climate shiraz of violet, red fruit and pepper! Generally known as the bench-mark!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll be on the lookout for it. Cheers!

[@eladfried5258]

Any suggestion for a good producer from the Rhone to a sweet Viognier? never heard about sweet Viognier must admit..

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Guigal occasionally makes one called “Luminescence” and Pierre Gaillard makes a “Fleurs d’Automne.” Both of those are Condrieu. There are others, not necessarily produced every year. Outside of the Rhône various producers, especially in the U.S. and Australia will make a dessert style occasionally. Hope that helps. Cheers!

[@eladfried5258]

thanks a lot, your videos are amazing.

[@mauriziopagani417]

hi, thanks for your video.. is there any explanation about why the color of the blend vio/shz becomes deeper and more intense during the co-fermentation?