Rhône-style wines from California under £50 / $50
Top great red and white buys to try....
Viognier
The ‘hottest’ of the Rhône Valley trio, which includes Marsanne and Roussanne, Viognier is one of those relatively rare varieties which have been ‘discovered’ and now everyone wants a slice of the action.
Rippling out from the small appellation of Condrieu and the even tinier one of Château Grillet, the aromatic, powerful viognier with its hallmark blossom scents and apricot and peach-like flavours, has become the darling of Californians, and, latterly Argentina, Australia and the South of France too. It makes powerfully rich, dry whites made for drinking young, offering a delicious alternative style to Chardonnay.
SEE ALSO: 40,000 Euros of grapes stolen from Maison Etienne Guigal | Producer profile: Domaine Georges Vernay
What does it taste like?
The hallmark of the Viognier grape is the scent of spring blossom and jasmine and the rich flavours of apricot and peach. Ripening in warm sunshine, it can become quite heady and exotic with spicy undertones and plenty of body. Because of its spiciness sand body, it can be confused in blind tastings with Alsace Pinot Gris.
Food matching with Viognier: Michel Roux Jr: Leek Terrine with Goat’s Cheese Recipe | Michel Roux Jr: Mackerel recipe with cucumber, paprika tzatziki
Updated by Jeanne Thexton on the 12th of January 2016
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International Trophy White Blend under £15 - DeMorgenzon, Maestro, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2014
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Cutting-edge northern Rhône
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Viognier (white)
The 'hottest' of the Rhône Valley trio, which includes Marsanne and Roussanne, Viognier is one of those relatively rare varieties which have been 'discovered' and now everyone wants a slice of the action.
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Viognier
Viognier is a grape that came perilously close to extinction. Found only in the northern Rhône, it succumbed to phylloxera and to the difficulty and cost of cultivating the very steep slopes on which it was grown. Growers slowly abandoned their vineyards, and by the late 1960s there were no more than 12 hectares left. Fortunately, a handful of producers, most notably Georges Vernay, spearheaded its revival and replanting. But what makes Viognier unusual is that its re-emergence in Condrieu inspired growers, first in southern France and gradually throughout the world, to plant the variety too. The tiny but prestigious Château Grillet appellation, with its rare and costly wines, also helped to further the grape’s reputation.
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M Chapoutier, Domaine des Granges de Mirabel, Viognier, Ardeche, France 2005
BOOKMARK THIS PAGERecommendations > Best value wine of the week (supermarket & high street) > M Chapoutier, Domaine des Granges de Mirabel
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Nebbiolo is viognier cousin, conference hears
Nebbiolo, one of Italy’s most famous black grape varieties, is related to the aromatic viognier, DNA boffins have found.
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McLaren Vale of cheers
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