Enjoying Viognier - All about viognier, the grape and the wine
Transcription
Enjoying Viognier - All about viognier, the grape and the wine
Enjoying Viognier - All about viognier, the grape and the wine Find a Wine | About Viognier | Featured Wine | News | Trade | Register | Tell a Friend | Tell Us! Welcome to 'Enjoying Viognier', a unique website dedicated to just one grape variety and to all those who enjoy the wines produced from it. We want to increase your enjoyment by helping you to discover new and different Viogniers from around the world. Viognier - the fast rising star Viognier is fast growing in popularity - the choice of drinkers and growers alike. The last ten years has seen a massive increase in Viognier production throughout the world and more recently we have begun to see bottles on our supermarket shelves - challenging the monopoly of Chardonnay. There's a lot here - become a Viognier connoisseur Discover the wide range of clean tastes that stimulate the palate and make Viognier enjoyable with a wide variety of foods or just on it's own. Discover something of the wines unique story and what's happening to it now. Featured Wine Comparing Condrieu plus ……. 'Two mighty Condrieu and a Aussie Late Harvest .....' Click here to read the full review. News Click to view the full story 07 Oct 2004 - Gold and clean Oz sweep for Yalumba 29 Jan 2004 - Viognier is a cousin of Nebbiolo 19 Oct 2003 - 400 Viogniers! For more news, click here Find new wines from different parts of the world by using our searchable catalogue that provides details of wines, producers, and retailers. Periodically we feature a wine. These wines are usually readily available and range from cheap Chilean Viogniers through to pricey Condrieu. If you would like to contribute to the site in this or any other way, please contact us. © 2001 - 2005 Enjoying Viognier - all rights reserved | privacy statement http://www.enjoyingviognier.com/7/4/2005 8:27:22 PM This site is best viewed through a 25cl glass of slightly chilled Viognier Viognier Wine: The Resurrection of a Great Grape - Associated Content Search Associated Content Advanced Search Home » Lifestyle » Food & Wine » Viognier Wine: The Resurrection of a Great Grape CONTENTS ● Arts & Entertainment ● Automotive ● Business & Finance Viognier Wine: The Resurrection of a Great Grape May 24, 2005 By Robin Svedi ● Education ● Health & Wellness ● Home Improvement ● Legal ● Lifestyle ● Local ● Opinion/Editorial ● Prose ● Recreation ● Seniors The Viognier grape was almost extinct as close as ● Society twenty years ago when it was only found in the northern ● Sports Rhone area of France. Originally the Viognier grape ● Technology was grown to be mixed with other types of white grapes ● Travel to bring extra character to the more popular wines. Advertise With Us Call for Content Content Producer Info Viognier grapes were introduced to the United States by ● ● ● I recently attended a wine tasting event sponsored by Great Grapes, in Cary, North Carolina, and had the pleasure of tasting Viognier wine for the first time. Viognier, pronounced Vee-own-yay, is a white wine with a crisp clean taste that will give Chardonnay a run for its money. 4.0 Rate This Content 4.0 Rate This Producer Did you know? Viognier grapes were almost extinct twenty years ago? Takeaways way of California in the 1980's. By the early 1990's other state’s vineyards were getting in on the Viognier wave. · Viognier is a white wine with character. · Viognier goes great with Oriental style cooking. · Viognier wine has become a cult favorite in the United States. Resources On The Vine-Yadkin Valley & Carolina Wine Country News, www.enjoyingviognier.com, www.winepros.org, www. cellarnotes.net Associated Content Throwing a Wine Tasting Party Riedel Wine Today you can find Viognier growing not only in California but in North Carolina, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Texas, Colorado and Virginia as well as other areas in France, parts of Europe, Brazil and Australia. Viognier is a bit more expensive than Chardonnay due to the difficulty in growing the grapes. The Viognier grape vines produce fewer grapes, pound for pound. They have inconsistent yields, year to year, and are highly receptive to mildew fungus. Although they are drought tolerant, extreme moisture due to weather variations can be detrimental. The grapes must be picked at peak ripeness to produce the best wine. The fact that Viognier is becoming a cult wine in the United States is also responsible for the high pricing of the older French varieties. However, the locally grown versions of Viognier wine are still quite reasonable and for the first time taster this may be the way to go. Viognier wine is described as a white wine with character. It hints at sweetness but is actually quite dry. It has a rich deep color and its somewhat fruity flavor goes well with many types of food including oriental style dishes of chicken or fish and anything you might serve with a Chardonnay. Viognier wine has a spicy peach-apricot taste and boasts a high alcohol content with low acidity. It is best when served while still young. All of the Viognier wines that I sampled were grown and produced in North Carolina, mostly from the Foothills and Piedmont region of the state. The vines there are still considered young in wine making terms, referring to the fact that they are less than twenty years old. Even so, I have to tell you that I was quite impressed with the taste. I can’t wait to see what a few more years of maturity will bring to the wines of this region. 1 2 NEXT PAGE » More articles by Robin Svedi Jackie Gleason and the Honeymooners How to Collect Picture Disc Record Albums Relocating to Raleigh North Carolina? http://www.associatedcontent.com/content.cfm?content_type=article&content_type_id=3002 (1 of 2)7/4/2005 8:30:38 PM Viognier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1 of 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viognie All active users are invited to vote in the Elections for the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation. Viognier From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Once a fairly common, and then a very rare white wine grape grown almost exclusively in the northern Rhône regions of France, Viognier (pronounced vee-oh-NYAY) has been planted much more extensively around the world since the early 1990s. Both California and Australia now have significant amounts of land devoted to the Viognier grape. There are also notable increases in planting in other states in the United States and in other countries. The decline of Viognier in France from its historic peak has much to do with the disastrous introduction of Phylloxera insects from North America into Europe in the mid- and late-1800s, followed thereafter by the abandonment of the vineyards due to the chaos of World War I. By 1965, only about 30 acres (120,000 m²) of Viognier vines remained in France, and the variety was nearly extinct. Even as late as the mid-1980s, Viognier in France was endangered. Paralleling the growth of Viognier in the rest of the world, plantings in France have grown dramatically since then. Viognier grapes can be difficult to grow. Its vines do not produce high yields compared to other grapes and the variety is not very resistant to disease. Some wine critics feel that the terroir (microclimate) of the regions of France where it traditionally is grown is essential to its best expression in wine. It should neither be picked too early nor too late if wine of the highest quality is to be made. The grape prefers warmer environments and a long growing season, but can grow in cooler areas as well. It is a grape with low acidity; it is sometimes used to soften wines made predominantly with the Syrah grape (Cote Rotie from France or The Laughing Magpie from South Australia being two examples), and is blended with other white and red varieties, but it can make outstanding wines by itself. The color and the aroma of the wine suggest a sweet wine but Viognier wines are predominantly dry, although sweet late-harvest dessert wines have been made with this variety. The best quality Viognier wines are well-known for their floral aromas, due to terpenes, which are also found in Muscat and Riesling wines. There are also many other powerful flower and fruit aromas which can be perceived in these wines, depending on where they were grown, the weather conditions and how old the vines were, with vines greater than twenty years old thought to be superior to younger vines. Although some of these wines, especially those from old vines and the late-harvest wines, are suitable for aging, most should be consumed young. [edit] External links Enjoying Viognier Viognier: California's Exotic, Rare White Wine [edit] Reference Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst; Wine Lover's Companion; Barron's; ISBN 0-8120-1479-0 (paperback, 1995) 7/4/2005 8:37 PM Smoking Loon Smoking Loon is bright, but doesn't have an acidic personality. Not to be mean, but this one isn't real complex. Hey, you weren't looking for anything serious anyway, right? Think of a reggae-loving, smiling, good time date. Fruit, flowers and oak: that's what your date reminds me of. OK, I know how much you hate getting fixed up, but I've got the perfect date for you! Yeah, yeah, you aren't looking for anything serious. Trust me, this one is just fun! Besides, when have I steered you wrong before? Your date's name is Smoking Loon. It sounds Native American, but the parents are Sonoma's own Sebastiani family, so go figure. Loon's coloring is a bit pale (even for a whitey), but I've never been one to judge on appearances. I do think smell is important, though, and this one smells great - like a bouquet of spring flowers. There's also a clean, citrus and apple thing happening. http://www.wilderonwine.com/Reviews/review_3.htm (1 of 2)7/4/2005 8:41:03 PM On top of all this, you don't need to worry about how much an evening with Smoking Loon will cost. Talk about a cheap date! You won't pay more than $10, and may pay as little as $8 if you go to the right place. For a short-term relationship, Loon is perfect (meaning, this isn't one to hold on to for very long). If you're looking for marriage material (something you can stay with for a while), you may want to get the phone number of Joseph Phelp's viognier. Phelp's will cost you three times more (at least) than Smoking Loon, but quality relationships are always an investment. Cheers, TSW Read the WoW Rant on viognier, originally sent to subscribers 6/9/01. SMOKING LOON 2003 Viognier TASTING NOTES Medium straw color. Very intense honeysuckle, pear and rose/clove spice. Ripe melon, passion fruit, pineapple and orange blossom flavors. SERVING SUGGESTIONS This Viognier is perfect as an aperitif, as an after-dinner palate cleanser, or try with Thai spicy red pepper beef or chicken in peanut sauce. The rich palate is textured like nectar and is a great accompaniment to spicy fusion cuisine such as emerald green curry, five-spice duck and sweet and sour Moshu chicken with fresh lime TECHNICAL INFORMATION Appellation: California Harvest Dates: October 2003 Alcohol: 13.8 Total Acid: 0.67 pH: 3.67 DON&SONS SEBASTIANI DON&SONS 707-933-1704 707-933-1709 [email protected] www.donandsons.com PO BOX 1248 • SONOMA, CA 95476 PHONE FAX EMAIL WEB MAILING INFORMATION AlcoholReviews.com Reviews Georges Duboeuf Viognier 1999 Georges Duboeuf Viognier 1999 by Kevin R. Kosar "Wow- cool bottle, with the paint flecks and all" said a guy I just met who claimed to be a sculptor. My nerves relaxed a hint. An hour earlier I had bumped into a friend on the street who informed me that they were having a birthday party for her beau and that I "must come by. He'll be so happy to see you there." I was flattered, as this fellow was one whom I liked but hadn't, for myriad reasons, been able to spend much time with. Our meetings seemed limited to brief chats on chance meetings at bars or about the neighborhood. That said, I was edgy- it's a party, what to bring? "Oh, if you can pick up a bottle of wine that would be great," his lady said. "we're having ice cream cakes." Needless to say, this made my task considerably more difficult. We needed a wine worth sipping before the and during the ice cream cakes. Gads. At a loss, I turned to ever reliable Georges Duboeuf. I snatched up a bottle of his white table wine, Viognier 1999 ($14), made from the grape of the same name. On pouring a few glasses I felt better- it nose was both floral and fruity. after a few sips, the compliments started rolling in- "Hey- this is really good," and the like. It tasted of peach, honey and flowers, and because it was rather viscous, it handled the sugary sweetness of the ice cream cakes (both vanilla and chocolate) with ease. The bottle emptied, the party ran late, and a friendship was born. (Rating ****) http://www.alcoholreviews.com/WINES/duboeufviognier.html7/4/2005 9:08:56 PM W.J.Deutsch & Sons Ltd. :: Georges Duboeuf W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd. Georges Duboeuf - Vins de Pays Viognier - Viognier Up until the 1980s, the traditional grape variety of the Rhône Valley—Viognier—was only found in the appellation of Condrieu and Château Grillet. However it has now been planted further south and in particular in the Ardèche. We are in partnership with a group of growers here, planting about 370 acres (150 hectares) adhering to regulations, which ensure that this project will result in wines of high quality. These regulations also cover the methods of vinification and maturing of the wines. The anticipated yields are in the region of 31/40 hectoliters per hectare maximum, which will enable us to make wines which show a great deal of character. The wine has a lovely golden yellow color with aromas which are complex and full of freshness. It is evocative of fruits such as peach, apricot, pear and exotic fruits as well as flowers and spices. http://www.wjdeutsch.com/wineportfolio/georgesduboeuf/print_product.asp?ProductID=155 (1 of 2)7/4/2005 9:21:59 PM Bienvenue au Château Pesquie Grape varieties: 100 % Viognier. Soil: The vineyard planted on a gravel soil faces east at an altitude of 230 to 260 meters. Winemaking: The grapes are crushed, then placed in the vat under a protective layer of Co2 and kept at low temperature for 12 hours for the skin maceration phase. The must is then pressed under a cap of Co2 to avoid oxydation. The must is also racked at low temperature whereas alcoholic fermentation is at 18°. The malolactic fermentation has been blocked to preserve sufficient acidity. Tasting: Pale color with bright, clear silvery highlights. White flowers on the nose with apricot and vine peach notes. The pure, round mouthfeel is backed by ample freshness, blossoming into exotic fruits with a violet finish. Food and wine pairing: A favorite as an aperitif, "Le Viognier du Pesquié" is one of those rare wines that can be paired with asparagus. It makes an elegant accompaniment to foie gras, grilled fish, stuffed squid, shellfish rillettes, and coquilles Saint Jacques gratins. This wine variety also enhances cheese dishes such as parmesan risotto, soufflets au comté, and goat cheeses. For dessert, it is delicious with pecan, pear, or apricot pie. read the recipe Consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems - Consume in moderation Home page http://www.chateaupesquie.com/anglais/vin/fiches-techniques/viognier.htm (2 of 2)7/4/2005 10:03:48 PM Recipe Contact us Valley View Winery - About Us. About Valley View Winery Southern Oregon's Premier Winery Located in the nationally recognized historic town of Jacksonville, in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, Valley View Vineyard was originally established by pioneer Peter Britt in the 1850's. The name has since been restored by the Wisnovsky family for their vineyard and winery established in 1972 in the beautiful Applegate Valley nine miles from Jacksonville. The Rogue Valley offers a variety of soil types and microclimates that allow a great diversity of grape varieties to be grown. Because the Applegate Valley is considerably sunnier, warmer, and drier than elsewhere in Western Oregon, Valley View concentrates on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier, Syrah, and Tempranillo at our estate vineyard. Valley View Vineyard produces a variety of wines which will please every palate. The Anna Maria label, which represents the finest wines we make, is available in only the best vintages. The Valley View label represents premium quality wines at very affordable prices. Wherever you are in Southern Oregon, Valley View wines are nearby. Add to the pleasure of Southern Oregon by tasting the wines at either of two locations. Valley View wines are available at most fine restaurants and wine shops throughout Oregon, or through mail-order to almost all states. Honesty, Labels, and Vintages Our family has been involved in wine growing for nearly 30 years and we intend to continue for many more. We believe that to succeed in this business long-term, we must respect our customers and fulfill their needs. So why the speech? Unfortunately, many wine lovers have become cynical after years of hearing that every vintage is the "vintage of the decade" and seeing wineries produce "reserve" wines year in and year out. For the most part, these practices are due to the rise of corporate wineries with huge advertising budgets who believe that wine can be treated just like shampoo or toothpaste - just another commodity. The fact is vintages vary, sometimes dramatically, and not every vintage produces wines of "reserve" caliber. With this in mind, we established the Anna Maria label to recognize the exceptional vintages, and the Valley View label for the excellent vintages. No longer does one need to remember whether the Valley View 1997 Anna Maria Merlot is finer than the Valley View 1996 Anna Maria Merlot - we did not produce any Anna Maria reds in 1996! Nor did we in 1993. Or 1991 or 1989. However, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999 and (newly released) 2000 were excellent vintages and several Anna Maria label wines were produced. Note: please do not overlook the excellent Valley View wines just because they are not "Reserve" wines. Remember, one does not eat filet mignon or lobster every night! We like to say that the Valley View wines are for weekdays and the Anna Maria wines are for the weekends. Thank you for supporting our family's winery. ^TOP http://www.valleyviewwinery.com/about.html (1 of 2)7/4/2005 10:06:28 PM Valley View Winery 1 of 1 Subject: Valley View Winery Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 12:13:57 -0700 From: "Mike" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Hi David, I was there when they came in and suggested the 2004 Viognier for the tasting, we do not have tasting notes now but I have to do some for another event in LA so here we go... The grapes for this wine were grown by Del Rio, Quail Run, Stepping Stone and Valley View Vineyards. The average brix at harvest was 25.3. The grapes were whole berry pressed and the juice was fermented cool, below 55 degrees, in a stainless tank. This wine exhibits classic Viognier characteristics of floral, citrus blossom nose and flavors of grapefruit, mango and peach. The wine finishes with a great balance of fruit and acidity. With a RS of 0.5 and 14.2% alcohol this wine is a great match with fresh halibut and is a favorite during the hot summer months in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Rogue Valley. If you need more info just tell me. Many in the wine industry are beginning to realize that the Rogue Valley may be the best place to grow Viognier on the West Coast. By having on average more than 1 hour a day of sunshine than most of the California wine regions we can get those great ripe Viognier flavors at lower sugar levels than most areas of California. Subsequently we do not have to alter the juice by adding another wine or water to get the alcohol to below 16%. Our Viognier will also have enough acid to hold the wine together which is sometimes not the case if you are harvesting at 27 brix or higher. Have a great tasting. Tell me how the wines all did. ....also we made 580 cases and the wine will retail for $22 or so, we have not released it yet. The wine is only available through the winery, so get your state to look at what NY is doing so we can ship wine to you! Thanks, Michael Wisnovsky Valley View Winery 1.800.781.9463 7/4/2005 8:09 PM Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards - About Us HomeAbout UsWinesKunde on the RoadWinemaking Estate VineyardsTrade Contact Wine ClubTasting Room Hospitality & Event Planning Find Our Wines Family owned and operated, Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards produces ultra-premium, estate-grown and handcrafted wines in the finest traditions of the renowned Sonoma Valley. Our founder, Louis Kunde, who emigrated from Germany, acquired the Wildwood Vineyards ranch with its acclaimed iron-rich, ancient red volcanic soils in 1904. These vineyards were first planted in 1879 by pioneer John Drummond with imported cuttings from Chateaux Margaux and Lafite Rothschild. Upon Louis' death in 1922, the winery and vineyards were taken over by his son, Arthur “Big Boy” Kunde. Big Boy kept the winery open during the difficult times of Prohibition by selling “sacramental” wines, and though he continued to grow grapes through World War II, he was forced to close the winery doors when his sons were drafted into service. Throughout the 1960's and '70's, two of Big Boy's sons, Bob and Fred, greatly expanded the Kunde Estate, adding the esteemed Kinneybrook Ranch in 1977. Planting hundreds of acres to prime varietals, their hard work and savvy business decisions laid the groundwork for building the Kunde Estate Winery and aging caves in the early 1990’s. In October 2004, five-generations of the Kunde family gathered with friends to celebrate their 100th harvest, and to honor all the hard work and dedication that came through them us and before them. As we enter the next century of winegrowing, the fourthgeneration family members Bill, Jeff, Keith, Marcia and Kurt Kunde, remain hands-on proprietors. They now oversee an operation comprised of our state-of-the-art winemaking facility and 2,000 contiguous acres, of which 800 acres are planted to more than twenty different varieties of wine grapes. http://www.kunde.com/about%5Fus/ (1 of 2)7/4/2005 10:16:59 PM 2003 VIOGNIER SONOMA VALLEY K nown for its intense aromas of honeysuckle and peaches, the Viognier grape is traditionally grown in the Rhone region of southern France. These classic floral aromas give way to big helpings of fruit with white pepper spice on it’s full bodied clean finish. Floral aromas give way to big helpings of fruit Harvest The fruit was hand selected from two different blocks on our Kinneybrook Ranch on September 18 at an average Brix of 23.7o. Winemaking • Fermentation begins in tank at 55o F. and finishes in the barrel after the must drops to 5o Brix • The wine was aged for 7 months in 1 to 3 year old small French oak barrels • Partial malo-lactic fermentation Release Date Vintage Notes 0.60 The 2003 season was characterized by very mixed weather and some dramatic shifts in temperature. The changeable weather affected set in some varietals, leading to lower than expected yield - Viognier included. Despite some periods of extreme heat at harvest, the nights remained cool and overall levels of acidity and aromatics were good. The lower crops, high sugars, and good acidity led to the crafting of some very exciting wines. pH Food Pairing Light summer styled salads and lightly seasoned pork tenderloin July 2004 Residual Sugar 0.16 Total Acid 3.60 Alcohol 14.5% WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS “Intense varietal fruit, a full-bodied palate, and a clean finish make our 2003 Viognier as pure an expression of this varietal as any we have ever produced. Contrasting aromas of honeysuckle and white pepper signal the wine's character from the nose through to the palate and linger, gently, in the finish. An exciting wine to match with food, I've found Viognier to pair well with everything from barbequed pork ribs to salad. Enjoy this unique tasting adventure!” David Noyes Winemaker A Family Winegrowing Legacy Since 1904 Arrowood - Inside Arrowood Welcome History Richard L. Arrowood, Winemaster Born in San Francisco and raised in Santa Rosa, California, Richard Arrowood started his winemaking career in 1965 at Korbel Champagne Cellars, after earning a degree in organic chemistry at California State University, Sacramento and completing graduate work in enology at California State University, Fresno. From Korbel he moved on, first to United Vintners, then Sonoma Vineyards, and in 1974 was chosen by the founders of Chateau St. Jean Winery to become their first employee as winemaster and, eventually, executive vice president. Chateau St. Jean wines quickly received critical acclaim and Richard gained a worldwide reputation for producing superb wines. In April 1990, after sixteen years with Chateau St. Jean, Richard once again moved on - to devote himself full-time to Arrowood Vineyards and Winery. It is here that Richard has been able to achieve his goal of producing wines of singular, exceptional quality without compromise. His original plan was to produce reserve quality Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon only, however, Richard's drive and passion for making wine left him unable to resist working with unusual varietals and what he considers to be exceptional fruit. The Arrowood portfolio has expanded to include limited quantities of Merlot, Viognier, Pinot Blanc, Late Harvest wines, Malbec, Syrah and a few special reserve wines. Region/Climate | Winery Facilities Arrowood > Inside Arrowood > The Winemaster http://www.arrowoodvineyards.com/iw_winemaster.html7/4/2005 10:19:05 PM Region/Climate The Winemaster Winery Facilities Arrowood - Our Wines back to wine description 2003 Arrowood Viognier, Saralee’s Vineyard Region/Origin: Russian River Valley/Saralee’s Vineyard Residual Sugar: Dry Total Acid: .49g per 100ml Alcohol: 15.6% Final pH: 3.7 Blend: 100% Viognier Winemaker's Notes Once a grape on the edge of extinction, Viognier (vee-oh-nyay) is now one of the most fashionable varietals in the world of wine. In Sonoma County alone, the amount of Viognier crushed has grown from 1/2 ton in 1990 to more than 500 tons in 2003! Our 2003 Viognier is made with fruit from Saralee’s Vineyard located in the cool Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. The combination of lingering morning fog, warm afternoons and well-drained, gravel bearing soils yield grapes with intense flavors and aromatics. We feel the 2003 vintage of this exotic wine is one of the richest, most complex and fruit forward Viogniers we have ever produced at Arrowood Winery. An overture of fragrant rose petal, honeysuckle and oriental spice aromas give way to rich flavors of lychee nut, orange blossom and creamy citrus vanilla. The finish is full, rich and concentrated. While Viognier is wonderful on its own, the wine also complements a variety of dishes. Serve it with beef tenderloin and Gorgonzola butter with rosemary or a spicy barbecued chicken. It also goes well with spicy Thai dishes, seafood, and a myriad of pasta recipes! To fully capture its exotic, lively character and to appreciate its youthful charm, we suggest you enjoy Viognier within a few years of the vintage. View winemaker's notes for another vintage of this wine: 2001 Arrowood > Our Wines > Wine Description > Winemaker's Notes http://www.arrowoodvineyards.com/wines/wvi03.html7/4/2005 10:19:57 PM