Victor’s Favorite Wines
Viognier
The Flora Fanatic of Rhone Valley
Meet Victor, the flora fanatic of Rhone Valley. He's cheerful, laid-back, and has a muscular build to match his love of wine. He dresses in gold and styles his hair with so much wax it always looks a touch oily. He loves socializing, but he's just as happy keeping his own company.
In wine terms? Victor is Viognier, one of the classic aromatic white wine grapes. Rhone Valley, France is Viognier's homeland, particularly around the steep slopes of Condrieu.
But he's a serious traveler, and you'll find great examples of Viognier from Australia, the US, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile.
Viognier is full-bodied with a naturally oily texture, low-to-medium acidity, and a golden color in the glass. Expect a perfumed nose of peach, tangerine, mango, and honeysuckle, with rose aromas.
Viognier can go either way in the cellar. It's sometimes bottled on its own, and sometimes blended with other grapes like Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc. That fits Victor down to the ground: he loves company, but he's just as happy flying solo.
Now let's find you some bottles he'd actually approve of.
Victor's Top Picks
We picked bottles from Victor's homeland and beyond. All available on Pop Up Wine Singapore and Paneco Singapore. Click any wine name to shop it.
1. Great value-for-money
Les Centenaires : Costières Blanc "La Bergerie de Nîmes" 2020
Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France | $39 / bottle
Victor says: "This is a Costières de Nîmes white blend where I am just a tenth of the mix, alongside Marsanne, Roussanne and Vermentino, but I still helped make it special. Floral blossoms, fresh pineapple and pear, with real weight on the palate. The 2017 vintage picked up 91 points from Jeb Dunnuck, and this one scored 9.5 out of 10 from Monvin Français. Real quality without breaking the bank."
Pairs with: Roast chicken, grilled prawns, or a dish with almonds
2. For an easy weekend white
Domaine Duseigneur : La Goutte du Seigneur Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2022
Rhône, France | $49 / bottle
Victor says: "A third of this blend is me, alongside Grenache and Bourboulenc, and I think we make a great team. Ripe melon and white peach up front, with wild meadow grasses and a touch of salinity on the finish. Bernard farms it organically and biodynamically. Perfect for a ‘wine’ down on a slow Sunday afternoon."
Pairs with: Roast chicken, herbed goat's cheese, or grilled white fish
3. To impress at a dinner party
Calera : Mount Harlan Viognier 2017
Mount Harlan, California, USA | $76 / bottle
Victor says: "Josh Jensen planted vines on these limestone slopes back in the 1970s because he believed great wine starts with great soil, and I think he was onto something. Honeysuckle, white peach, and citrus, with a bright, zesty finish. It scored 93 points from Wine & Spirits and 92 from Wine Enthusiast. This is me, dressed up for California."
Pairs with: Roasted chicken, seared scallops, or a creamy risotto
4. For a special occasion
Domaine J. Denuzière : Condrieu 2020
Condrieu, Rhône, France | $105 / bottle
Victor says: "This is from my home turf, the Condrieu appellation. It comes from a single east-facing plot in the village of Vérin that the Denuzière family has farmed since 1876, and every drop is me, no blending partners needed. Violets and white peach on the nose, with mango, apricot, and a touch of musk underneath. Rated 4 out of 5 on Vivino. A fine expression of my true self."
Pairs with: Lobster, creamy pasta, or a mild curry
Viognier Cheat Sheet
| Body | Full-bodied, with a rich, almost oily texture |
| Color | Golden yellow with a glimmer of green |
| Tasting notes | Peach, tangerine, mango, honeysuckle, with rose aromas |
| Serve at | 7–12°C |
| Best with | Roasted chicken, shellfish, creamy cheeses, and dishes with aromatic herbs |
| Avoid with | Very light, delicate dishes or sharp, acidic salads that get lost next to Viognier's richness |
| Glass type | White wine glass, it funnels those intense floral aromas right to your nose |
Meet Victor
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