Varietal: Viognier
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $19
A nose of smoky papaya gives way to concentrated apple and white pepper tones with a lingering lemon finish. Pairs well with seafood, grilled chicken, and spiced food.
Recommendations: The deeper we’ve gotten into summer, the more I’ve been drinking wines like Viognier. Fortunately, living in Virginia, it’s easy to come by as we grow it quite well. Back in February, at the Virginia Wine Expo, I was first introduced to Blenheim Vineyards, and instantly fell in love with both their Cabernet Franc and their Viognier. In March when my wife and I spent a weekend traipsing around Virginia wine country, we made a point of stopping in at Blenheim as we had not bought nearly enough of their wine, specifically their Viognier, to last us through the summer.
This past weekend while enjoying a dinner of grilled scallops and rockfish flounder, my wife and I opened a bottle of the Blenheim Viognier we had chilling in our fridge. I had forgotten that the Blenheim Viognier is a bit heavier than some other Viognier that I’ve had, but that’s not a bad thing. Blenheim’s Vigonier is a bit more robust, holding up well to the seasoning that my wife and I applied to our dinner, while still showing the floral aromas that I associate with Viognier.
The lemon on the finish was definitely a nice compliment to our dinner, and overall the wine paired well with the meal. What I like about Viognier is that even by itself it’s enjoyable, which for a lighter wine I’m sometimes hit or miss on. The Blenheim Viognier is no exception to this rule.
The only downside to the Blenheim Viognier is that you can’t get it in your local store. Fortunately, Blenheim does have an only store, featured here. While we’re still in summer I definitely recommend giving their Viognier a try, and if you’re ever in the Charlottesville, Virginia region they’re one worth stopping in to visit.
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