£8.50 (currently £7.00), Rhone, France
For a ripe, warming, yet dry white for the colder months, but also for the perfect match to spicy food, head straight to the Viognier grape.
It hails originally from the Rhone Valley, and produces the most delicious, ripe,warming whites – fleshy, warming and bursting with super ripe sun-kissed mediterranean stone fruits, reminiscent of the scents of summer market stalls.
Now made successfully in many other countries, the Viognier grape loves warmth and sunshine, so fares well in many southern hemisphere countries. But back to this one – it’s from southern France, made by one of the region’s most respected winemakers Laurent Miquel.
This one’s rich, and full of the heady scents of ripe peaches, and downy apricot skins, with a hint of wild southern herbs. Gloriously rich and fleshy in texture and taste, yet with a delightful citrus freshness bite.
Perfect with creamy chicken or fish dishes, but also one of the best matches for spicy food – in my case it coped perfectly with a gochujang, kimchi and miso slow braised pork stew.
Angela... The Full Glass 