Viognier

Description

This sensuous, increasingly celebrated import from the Northern Rhone region, specifically, le Condrieu, has been winning over hearts and palates since its lucky comeback from near extinction in 1965 when there were only a remaining total of eight acres worldwide producing about 1,900 liters of wine.  Its origins are not precisely known, but it is felt to be an ancient grape. It may have originated in Dalmatia and then brought to the Rhone region by the Romans, possibly in 281 AD. Some claim that it was named for a Roman outpost, now the French city of Vienne. A more intriguing story is that the name derives from the Roman pronunciation of the via Gehennae, or the “Road of the Valley of Hell”, possibly alluding to the difficulty of growing this varietal.  Our experience with Viognier in the vineyard and in the bottle, have left us with an enduring appreciation for its lusciousness and versatility.