Corney & Barrow 

Seductive and delicious, Viognier’s charms are so irresistible it is hard to believe that a few years ago the grape had almost died out! Low-yielding and a challenge to grow, Viognier fell out of favour with wine producers in its traditional heartland of France’s northern Rhône and by the 1980s, just twenty hectares remained. It is testament to the dedication of a few local growers that we can enjoy Viognier today. While it can be teased to jasmine-flower, white peach perfection on the steep, granite terraces of Condrieu in the northern Rhône, Viognier is increasingly planted further afield. In warm wine regions like France’s Languedoc-Roussillon, South Australia and California, cooler vineyard sites can produce enticing Viognier styles. Moreover, blended with red grape Syrah, Viognier adds perfume and soft appeal to the northern Rhône’s Côte-Rôtie, a wine style replicated worldwide.