Wine · Grape variety guide
Grape Variety Guide · WSET Level 2
Viognier
Perfumed and full-bodied — the grape behind the Northern Rhône's Condrieu.
Low acidity
Highly aromatic
Full body
Where it grows
- Condrieu, Northern Rhône, France — the grape's small-production, historic home
- Languedoc, France — more affordable varietal bottlings
- Central Coast, California, USA — warm-climate examples
- Australia — sometimes co-fermented with Syrah
- Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône, France — a small amount blended into Syrah for aromatics
What it tastes like
- Peach and apricot fruit
- Blossom notes — honeysuckle and violet
- Sometimes a musky or slightly oily texture
- Low acidity, full body
Growing notes
- Historically low and inconsistent yields nearly caused it to disappear from Condrieu
- Needs a warm site and careful canopy management to ripen fully
- Low natural acidity means it's usually made to drink while young
Good to know
In the Northern Rhône, including Côte-Rôtie, a small amount of Viognier is sometimes co-fermented with Syrah — it lifts the wine's aromatics and helps stabilise its colour.
Exam tip
Expect a question naming Condrieu as Viognier's classic home, and the Syrah/Viognier co-fermentation fact for Côte-Rôtie.
Part of the Grape Guide — browse all varieties, or jump back to the study sheet.
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