A white grape so abundant in its bouquet that it almost came to the precipice of extinction only to be brought back in abundance decades later. This is the beautifully perfumed Viognier.

AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) : Rhone Valley
Region: Condrieu, France
Characteristics: Widely recognized for its aromatic bouquet. Honeysuckle, apricot, white flowers.

A temperamental grape variety at times, perfect for sunny regions; its thick skins demand it. The grape variety was almost pushed to the edge throughout most of its time. However, it is astonishing to see it thriving in the present. Its success is not just in France but internationally as well. Condrieu is the main region where it is planted. In the Côte-Rôtie, it is often blended with Syrah to produce more perfumed red wines. New World countries like Australia and the United States have a large percentage of their own plantings. These plantings are shining a new light on both old and new methods in winemaking.

Its history is significant. It was first told to be brought by the Romans and then removed for its supposed “bad influence” on Roman warriors. Unfortunately, its resurgence wouldn’t happen until years later. Emperor Probus, a heavy believer in agriculture as a way to enrich his empire, led the way for vineyards to be planted once again. In its later years, it witnessed two great wars. Over time, it slowly became unknown. One of the last hits came from the phylloxera epidemic, which was a truly devastating blow. Being a difficult grape variety only made it more challenging to expand. However, it survived many battles. It has had a classic comeback story. It is altogether a distinctive full-bodied wine. It begs to be explored first in France. There you’ll see and taste the richness of its history. But Viognier in other countries is just as worthy. Australia holds the majority of plantings. Then, Napa Valley in California takes its turn. However, here we’ll be shedding light on Texas. An unlikely place but one that should be explored.

Pedernales Cellars has a deep focus in Rhone style wines. This style is one of the closest made in Texas that can compare to those in the Old World. On the nose is something closely to home. It is reminiscent of sweet, shared memories. It is almost like smelling cookies that bring you back to home. Among this, you’ll find creamy notes of vanilla and pineapple. Their take is something unique. After tasting the perfumed wine from Condrieu, one can surely notice that this is truly special.
Primarily Viognier but a small percentage of Muscat Blanc is also used, a nice balance of both. It has a lively finish and yellow-gold hue. This combination makes it a worthy wine to explore. It celebrates the old and the new in one bottle.

Best Drinkware: Traditional white wine glass
(These are glasses that have a smaller bowl)

Tip: Viognier wines are best drunk young

Cheers! Thank you for reading and continue the search for more wines.

– Silk & Luna