As we get celebrate Viognier Day today on 29th April (and for some on 30th April too!), we take a look at some of the most exciting wine regions for Viognier and Viognier wines in South America. Chilean Viognier is a little easier to find, as the top Viognier producer in South America, although we’ve got you covered with recommendations from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay too!
Ultimate Guide to Viognier in South America
Viognier key descriptors
Medium lemon in colour. Aromas of peach, white blossom & mango. Dry with soft acidity (low) and medium body.
Viognier winemaking styles
South American Viognier is usually a monovarietal wine but sometimes used in white blends. Both youthful and oaked styles are common, and alcohol is normally around 13.5%.
Viognier in Chile
Hectares planted: 761 hectares
I don’t think we’ve really seen Chilean Viognier show its true potential yet, and there’s certainly no defined style or identified top terroir. There’s plenty planted around Chile — from the Atacama Desert down to the Lakes region, and between the mountains and the coast — but there are relatively few serious wine endeavours with the variety so far.
As winemakers have turned their attention to red varieties from the Rhône, however, they have also started to show a more interest in the white Rhône varieties, and some exciting Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne blends have emerged. These varieties can certainly find an ideal home in the alluvial and granite soils of both the Andes and the Coastal mountain ranges. A dash of Viognier also often makes its way into the blends of a few of the country’s top Syrah wines. Chilean Viognier has potential, but so far it is rather unexplored.
Favourite producers
Tabalí, Ventisquero Tara, L’Entremetteuse, ViuManent, Von Siebenthal, Emiliana, Cono Sur, Casas Patronales.
