Condrieu

Drink Condrieu before you die! Why?
It is liquid hedonism (and very nearly became extinct so you’re lucky you’re still able to)!

The best wines are often a paradox. Condrieu is a paradox to the extreme. It’s such a contradiction it’s almost funny. But it’s goooood. So, so good.

On one hand it’s opulent, fat, overt, flabby, extravagant. While, on the other, it’s refined, elegant, sophisticated, nuanced, poised. It’s absurd. It really is. You’ve got to try it if you haven’t already. And, if you have you’ll know what I’m talking about and want to try it again.

Guigal Condrieu label - viognier at its best | © guigal.com

Condrieu is a tiny little area in the Northern Rhone, France, and only makes wine from the Viognier grape. For a long time Condrieu was the only place where Viognier existed. In the 1960s, there was only 8 hectares of the stuff left . In some years a mere 1,900L of wine is all that was produced … that’s a measly 2533 bottles for the whole world to share! 

Fortunately, the interest in Condrieu and the Viognier grape has grown since then. Now there are 150 hectares of plantings in Condrieu and more than 5,000 hectares of Viognier planted around the World.

While some there are some great examples of Viognier from producers outside of Condrieu, Condrieu itself remains head and shoulders above the rest—able to pull off that combination of exotic flamboyance and voluptuousness with elegance and poise.

Terraces at Guigal's Coteau de Chery vienyard, Condrieu | © guigal.com