Mini facts to get you going on Shiraz Viognier

It’s a rainy, fall day here in Vancouver and thoughts of big red sippers are blotting out cravings for summer rosés on the patio.

This afternoon I’m heading to a tasting hosted by Yalumba’s Jane Ferrari, which got me thinking about shiraz viognier wines. I first tried this style of wine at the Yalumba’s tasting room. One of the staff encouraged me to try shiraz viognier along side a straight shiraz. The difference in flavour was quite apparent and I was hooked on the winery’s Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier offering.

What makes shiraz viognier special:

• shiraz grapes are co-fermented (not blended) with about 5% of the white winegrape called viognier
• the viognier brings a highly aromatic nose to the wine; eg. sniff your wine and you’ll smell a lot of interesting smells
• the viognier can also gives the wine a softer texture in the mouth
• it’s European origins rest in the French Cote Rotie region, where syrah grapes are often co-fermented with viognier

Give one a try (why not – it’s wine). Here are a few suggestions from producers that make great stuff:

Yalumba – Y Series or Hand Picked Series
d’Arenberg – Laughing Magpie
Black Chook Shiraz Viognier
Gemtree – Bloodstone
Tatachilla – Keystone
Henschke – Henry’s Seven