V on YAY Viognier 2022

Plenty of twists and turns led us to this award-winning Australian white from the De Bortoli family—and it’s a must-taste. A play on words of the pronunciation of “Viognier,” V On Yay is one of our favorite expressions of this classic grape, adored for its generous notes of ripe peach and apricot, floral accents and hint of tropical fruit.

Viognier is native to France’s northern Rhône Valley, and was approaching near extinction until fairly recently. It has enjoyed renewed attention thanks in part to a band of trailblazing California winemakers in the 1980s. Often referred to as the “Rhône Rangers,” they were enamored with the Rhône’s native grapes, eager to make similar-style wines in California—and their top releases have propelled Viognier into newfound popularity.

Winemakers in Australia took note, too—and today, the southeastern part of the island is home to some of the world’s finest Viognier. This wonderful example is from the De Bortoli family, who have been making wine in sunny Riverina over 90 years. What began as a stroke of luck back in 1928 is now a multi-generational, family-run estate with a focus on sustainability, for which they have won multiple awards.

The grapes were picked in the cool early hours, fermented at a low temperature and bottled early to capture all that freshness and exuberance. Chill well and serve—V On Yay is a great choice for a gathering of friends, sipped on its own, with salmon and spicy salsa or a noodle stir-fry.