Covenant’s Israeli winery started making Viognier from the Galilee in 2017 under the BLUE C label. It inspired us to see what a California Viognier could deliver using the same production methods. Covenant RED C Viognier comes from the same vineyard in Lodi, CA, that produces our Mensch Roussanne grapes. (Both Viognier and Roussanne are best known as French Rhone varietals.)

Our new Viognier is sourced from a small parcel of the Mettler Vineyard. The grapes were among the first to be harvested this year on September 5. Not surprisingly, RED C Viognier is the first wine we have released from the vintage. It is fermented in neutral French oak barrels using native yeast.

Viognier is noteworthy for its somewhat exotic, spicy characteristics showing hints of orange peel and menthol. On the palate, RED C Viognier serves up layers of stone fruit—like peach and loquat—highlighted by a fresh, citrusy edge.