Von Siebenthal

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.