Viognier (pronounced vee-own-yay) is one of the wine world’s most intriguing aromatic whites. Originating in France’s Northern Rhône, the grape has found a loyal following in California, Australia — and increasingly here in British Columbia. Known for its lush texture and vibrant floral-fruit aromatics, Viognier often delivers Chardonnay-like richness with an exotic twist.
In BC, Viognier remains a niche varietal — just 235 acres planted, representing about 4.5% of the province’s white wine grapes — but it’s gaining momentum. Plantings are up more than 40% since 2008 as more wineries embrace its bold personality and food-friendly versatility.
Several standout Viogniers from recent vintages are already sold out, which only heightens anticipation for the upcoming 2025 releases.
🥂 Here are some of the best BC Viognier wines to discover in 2026 — made for winter sipping and romantic Valentine’s Day dinners.
Church & State Viognier 2019 ($27.60)
Hand Harvested and directly pressed in whole bunches. Fermentation in barrels for 3 weeks. Aged for 8 months in French oak barrels.
Alcohol 13.4% |TA 4.1 g/L | RS 8 g/L
A beautiful light straw-coloured wine. The Viognier burst forth with a floral aroma of jasmine, lychee and sweet grass. The wine has a light buttery mouthfeel with flavours of apricot, nectarine, honeydew melon and lemon. 91 Points
Lariana Viognier 2020 (Sold Out)
The fruit is sourced from the Red Brick vineyard (east side of Osoyoos Lake) and the estate vineyard Shady Lagoon. 75% of the fermentation and aging happens in concrete with the remainder split between one French oak barrel and stainless.
Alcohol 14.4% | pH: 3.49 | TA: 6.0 | RS: 1.0 g/L
Upon the first few swirls, whiffs of tangerine, honeysuckle and soft fruits waft out of the glass. The juicy core is further enhanced by lemony shortbread and honeyed peach cream with a dusting of ginger. Weighty, without being rich and fat, persists to the finish. 92 Points
Paired with curry chicken thighs and Moroccan-spiced blood orange couscous.
Bottega Viognier 2016
The Viognier grapes grew on a hot gravel bed in Osoyoos. They were planted East to West, in well-drained soil, so they had a nice lake view! The vines were spur pruned and cropped to yield only 3 tons per acre. The grapes were hand-harvested on September 15, 2016, at 22 Brix when Daniel tasted the first flavour burst in the berries. The grapes were pressed as whole clusters to preserve the acidity and retain the mouthfeel. Then inoculated with cultured yeast and cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks. The fermentation temperature was gradually increased to 18 °C. The juice vigorously aerated to promote the formation of complex aromatics. The wine is finished with sur-lee ageing and weekly Bâtonnage for six months. Production was 200 cases.
Alcohol 13.0 % | pH 3.20 |TA 6.8 g/l | RS 4.0 g/l
This is a light to medium-bodied Viognier. The wine has a light floral aroma, make sure the wine isn’t overly chilled if you drink during the winter. On the palate, the fruit-forward wine displays a multitude of flavours – stone fruits, peach, pear and also kiwi, mandarin orange and hazelnut with a creamy finish. Well balanced with good acidity and a refreshingly light touch of bitterness. An ideal patio wine for the summer. 91 Points
Noble Ridge Vilicus Series Viognier 2024 (Sold Out)
The Viognier grapes are from the Goose Gap vineyard.
ALC: 13.5% | pH: 3.40 | TA: 6.0 | Brix: 21.6 | RS: 1.7 g/L
The Viognier captivates with delicate aromas of ripe peach and melon, accented by whispers of citrus blossom and honeysuckle. On the palate, the dry wine unfolds with a silky, generous texture, showcasing lush stone fruit and papaya, harmoniously balanced by vibrant, crisp acidity. 92 Points
Township 7 Benchmark Series Viognier 2023 (Sold out)
“Crafted exclusively from 100% Viognier, this wine originates from the esteemed Raju Vineyard in Osoyoos. This warm, sun-drenched site allows for optimal ripeness, enhancing both the wine’s expressive aromatics and its vibrant, fruit-forward character. Fermented in seven neutral French oak barrels, the wine develops a refined texture, while controlled fermentation between 16-18°C imparts a beautiful roundness into the finished wine.”
Alcohol 14.2% | pH 3.51 | TA 6.2 g/L | RS 8.2 g/L | Vegan
This off-dry Viognier captivates with delicate floral aromas, weaving together vibrant pink grapefruit, zesty key lime, and subtle honeysuckle accents. On the palate, it bursts with lively stone fruit, juicy passion fruit, and crisp citrus flavors. Beautifully balanced, it offers a refreshing interplay of bright acidity and a whisper of light, invigorating bitterness. 91 Points passion fruit. It is well balanced with good acidity and a refreshingly light bitterness. 90 Points
Castoro de Oro Viogner 2017
The viognier is pale straw in colour. On the nose, ripe peaches with exotic aromas of orange blossom. Flavours of yellow peach, nectarine, honeydew melon, hazelnut, citrus, a blast of honey, and a hint of white pepper. The wine has a luxurious, viscous mouthfeel and a medium-long finish. 91 Points.
Paired perfectly with Pan-Fried Sole with horseradish, mayonnaise and lemon sauce.
Gneiss Wines Viognier 2021($29.99)
13% Alcohol / RS 1.8 gm/L. The Viognier is from an Oliver vineyard and the wine was aged in 75% stainless steel and 25% French oak barrels.
The Viognier burst forth with a floral aroma of jasmine and lychee. The medium-bodied wine has a well-rounded creamy mouthfeel with bright acidity and apricot, nectarine, honeydew melon and citrus flavours. This wine is ripe, bold and lively and complements various dinner options and occasions. 91 Points
Blasted Church Viognier 2024 ($28)
The Viognier brings together fruit from the estate vineyard, Redbrick Vineyard on the Osoyoos East Bench, and Crespo Vineyard on the Osoyoos West Bench. Each block was hand-harvested at its ideal balance of sugar, acid, and phenolic ripeness and handled separately until blending in the weeks following harvest.
Some batches received a few hours of skin contact to increase the aromatic intensity and mouthfeel, while the remaining fruit was whole-cluster pressed directly to the tank for overall freshness and balance. A portion of the juice (25%) was racked to the barrel for fermentation and aging to bring more richness to the blend, while the remaining juice (75%) was fermented in stainless steel tanks.
Vibrant aromatic aromas of apricot, white florals, and tangerine. A gorgeous, rounded, complex mouthfeel with well-balanced acidity. Flavours of apricot jam, peach, mango, and Anjou pear lead to a satisfyingly long finish. 90 Points
Dirty Laundry Vineyard Viognier 2021 ($21.99)
“Our Tight Cork Vineyard located in Summerland BC is the home of all the Viognier grapes for this 2021 vintage. A touch of skin contact early in fermentation brings out a delicious round-mouth feel. This wine was once only a staple in our flagship wine Secret Affair, and it now shines on its own!”
Mason Spink, Winemaker
13% Alcohol, pH 3.56 TA 6.3 g/L, RS 8.93 g/L.
A beautiful floral nose of orange blossom, honeydew melon and a hint of jasmine. Flavours of nectarine, red peach, ripe apricots and honeycomb. An off-dry medium-bodied wine with the classic Viognier oily texture and a refreshingly light touch of bitterness. 90 Points
Food Pairing: Pork chops with apple sauce, seared scallops and a roasted root vegetable salad would all complement this wine very well. When looking at cheese pairings, try a double cream brie or creamy goat cheese.
Hester Creek Viognier 2024 ($23.99)
“This vintage of Viognier was sustainably farmed in the Goose Gap AVA, hand-harvested, and brought to the crush pad at Hester Creek in temperature-controlled trucks. Once here, our winemaking team hand-sorted the grapes, destemmed them, and sent them as whole berries to our fermentation tanks, where they were cold-settled for two days. We racked off the juice lees and inoculated the wine to be fermented for 20 days. After racking and cross-blending the resulting wine, it was aged five months and bottled on February 5, 2025.”
12.9% Alcohol / pH 3.32 / TA 7.83 / RS 6.7
A captivatingly aromatic Viognier, this wine weaves together scents of ripe apricot and juicy white peach with the delicate fragrance of apple and pear blossoms, kissed by a gentle rain during a stroll through a sun-dappled orchard. On the palate, it unfolds with a luscious, velvety mouthfeel, revealing layers of apricot, peach, and passionfruit, accented by a subtle hint of roasted fennel. A refined mineral backbone lends structure, carrying the flavours to a lingering, elegant finish. 92 Points
Pair the Viognier with flavourful Indian dishes, such as butter chicken or veggie korma, to enhance your tasting experience.
Top 50 British Columbia Wine Awards / Silver Medal Cascadia International 2025 Wine Competition
Reference
- 2022 B.C. Wine Grape Acreage Report
- Update with more recent vintage in September, 2025