9 best viognier wines that are the perfect alternative to chardonnay

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Viognier is a fickle grape. It’s hard to grow because it’s susceptible to a whole range of pests and diseases. Not only that, it’s also a fussy little fruit that needs to be picked at just the right time in order to showcase the grape’s distinctive heady aromas of honeysuckle, apricot and peach at their fullest.  

Having said that, get it right and you’ll be richly rewarded with a full-bodied creamy white, full of texture, with possibly nutty and slightly spicy layers on the palate. You’ll notice almost all have an ABV of at least 13 per cent – pretty high for a white wine but this perfectly illustrates the rich, lush nature you can expect from a good viognier. Thankfully we’ve done the legwork for you, sorting the fabulous from the ordinary at a variety of price points.

If you’ve not had the pleasure of trying this grape yet, it can be a great alternative for chardonnay drinkers. Originating in the Northern Rhône (particularly on the steep slopes above the village of Condrieu), you’ll now also find it growing in South Africa, Australia, Chile and California.  

It’s a particularly food friendly wine, working well with seafood and shellfish, white meat such as roast chicken but also pork dishes, hard cheeses and (notoriously tricky to pair with) spicy food too.

For our round-up, we’ve focused on unblended, 100 per cent viogniers and were very impressed with the quality we sampled at very purse friendly prices.

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