Creation
Viognier
–
As
Vivacious as it is Elegant
Although little known in South Africa, Viognier is a cultivar
which is becoming increasingly popular and production has
escalated over recent years.
Creation was the first in the Hemel-en-Aarde to plant this
grape, which is believed to be an ancient variety first
brought to Central and Western Europe from Croatia in Roman
times. Genetically it is a cousin of Nebbiolo and closely
related to the lesser known Piedmont grape, Freisa.
History
Viognier was hit particularly hard by the phylloxera epidemic
that decimated Europe’s vineyards in the late 19th Century,
and was slow to recover due to the chaos and confusion of two
world wars that followed with many vineyards totally
abandoned. By 1965 only 30 acres remained in production in its
traditional home in the Rhône Valley.
It is the only
cultivar permitted in the Condrieu Appellation, and up to 20%
Viognier is permitted in the red wines of the Côte-Rôtie AOC.
(The benefit of Viognier is that it provides additional
stability for the pigments in the Syrah with which it is
blended, adding floral notes.) In the rest of the Rhône it is
often blended with traditional white Mediterranean varieties
such as Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc.
Viticulture
Viognier tends to medium vigour in the vineyard but requires
deep soils with good water retention to ensure excellent
quality. The berries and bunches are small and round or
cylindrical, and usually have a yellow or amber hue when ripe.
The leaves are usually 3-lobed and light in colour, and
Viognier is generally considered to be immune to botrytis.
The Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge provides a perfect terroir: the cool
winds from the Atlantic Ocean during the ripening phase allow
slow physiological ripening which means ripe skins. This in
turn means that Creation’s Viognier is without the metallic
character associated with Viognier made from grapes with
unripe skins and too high a sugar content.
Vinification
At Creation the Viognier grapes ripen and are harvested fairly
early. Ripeness brings a distinctive aromatic character
evident in the white peach and floral notes associated with
the wine. Creation Viognier is unoaked to preserve the
freshness and minerality.
Flavour Profile and Food Pairing
Stylistically, Viognier is often richer and lower in acidity
than, for instance, Sauvignon Blanc, however differences in
vinification can produce a range of styles, making it
versatile. The Creation Viognier is a vivacious wine,
abundantly fruity and forthcoming yet elegant and refined.
During Carolyn Martin’s recent trip abroad she received many a
compliment on the elegant style of the wine. Fragrant white
peach aromas mingle with a subtle sprinkling of nutmeg which
on the lively palate combines seamlessly with crisp
minerality. Click here to order our wines online.
The trick to pairing food with Viognier is to fully respect
its delicate floral notes and medium acidity. Thus, as a
general rule, focus on embellishing and expanding the wine’s
core flavours while making sure that the pairing dishes are
not too acidic or bold.
Herb and Viognier Pairing
Coriander with Viognier creates an explosion of flavour
on the palate which lingers on and on.
Basil lends depth to the wine, resulting in a rounder,
mellow taste sensation.
Click here to view the Creation Herb Chart.