A varietal which is less well known than other whites, and one of the most appealing around. Viognier is most famous in Condrieu, a small town in the northern Rhône area of France. All white wine labeled as Condrieu is 100% Viognier, and most experts believe the variety was planted in Condrieu by the Greeks more than 2,000 years ago.
Our Viognier comes from the Bartolucci Vineyard outside Kelseyville (now known as Sawyer Vineyard), in the Big Valley AVA of Lake County, and which is is farmed organically. We prefer to harvest Viognier ripe, with its concentrated honey and apricot flavors. The vineyard canopy requires a small amount of leafing in the fruit zone, and removal of clusters that are not of optimum quality and flavor. Then the fruit is hand-harvested in the cool daybreak temperatures. Following whole cluster pressing, the fermentation is split, with half in neutral oak barrels to add complexity and the remainder cold-fermented in a small tank to retain the bright, core fruit aromas and delicate flavors.
Cost: $20.00
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