Cunningham Creek Winery
Viognier
2023
Virginia, USA
Monticello AVA
Viognier 100%
9 Months
Neutral oak 100%
Oak influence on flavor
Honeysuckle, Pineapple, Fresh lime, toasted brioche.
About
Cunningham Creek 2023 Viognier
The 2023 Viognier was fermented and then matured in 100% neutral French oak barrels for 9 months. Bâtonnage was performed weekly, which means stirring the lees, or spent yeast cells, in the barrel with the wine to help the Viognier pick up as much flavor and complexity as possible.
The oak maturation and Bâtonnage also help smooth out the wine and create the typical round, almost oily mouthfeel of excellent Viogniers.
Only 100 cases were produced of the 2023 Viognier.
Super aromatic and rich mouthfeel with tons of ripe fruit flavors. Exactly what you’re looking for in Viognier from Virginia.
Pairings
In a Pinch
Thai dishes, soft cheeses.
Deeper Dive
Viognier is typically a bit more difficult to pair due to its lower acidity, but the right flavors can really make this wine come to life.
Asian fare is actually great here, especially Thai dishes that don’t have too much heat. Mango and apricot chutneys are going to be perfect as well, and can help match this wine with stronger proteins.
Cheeses are also a great option, especially when topped with some sort of fruit jam.
Stand out features: Lower acidity, round mouthfeel, tropical fruit notes.
Pairing Scale
This is a general guide to give you an idea where this wine falls in a spectrum of dish complexities.
Steer Clear
Anything too light or acidic will be tough for this wine. Also watch out for dishes with too much heat.
Cheeses
Recipe Ideas
Service
Which glasses?
Large Burgundy glasses are going to be great to help bring out all the aromatics. But all-purpose glasses will do the trick as well.
Should I decant this?
Why "Up to you?"
There’s a lot of complexity in this wine, and giving it some time to breathe is really going to help here.
Most of these flavors will come out with some generous swirling in the glass for a few minutes, but if you want to time it perfectly, a decanter could help.
How long?
Generally you would want to decant a younger wine for longer to help it open up and be cautious of exposing older wines to oxygen for too long. There are always exceptions of course, but this is a pretty good rule to follow.
Serving Temp
The correct serving temperature is important to show a wine’s true potential, but don’t stress over getting the temp exactly right. Use the chart below to try to get in the right ballpark.
Aging
When should I open this?
If a wine has been released by the producer and is available for sale, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2025 – 2032
Producer
ABOUT US
Discover Cunningham Creek Winery & Brewery
Cunningham Creek Winery & Brewery is a family owned & operated small lot winery and brewery. We specialize in small lot finely crafted French varietals and Bordeaux blend wines and craft beers on tap.
We’re located on the Monticello Wine Trail–just 20 minutes from Jefferson’s Monticello, 30 minutes from Charlottesville, 10 minutes from Lake Monticello & 60 minutes from Richmond.
We are family, dog & picnic friendly. Enjoy our newly expanded outdoor seating or our air-conditioned tasting room. Or, enjoy your favorite CCW wine in our dog park and let your pup run off-leash. Don’t miss our weekly live music on Saturday night and team trivia the third Thursday of each month.
We’d love to share our wines, beers and open spaces with you!
WINE FLIGHTS
We currently offer customized wine flights, traditional tastings, glasses and bottles. Our flights include your choice of 5 wines from a rotating selection. Flights service ends 30 minutes before closing and is not available during live music, team trivia and music bingo.
If you want to take a “deep dive” into wine, make a reservation for a traditional tasting or a tour of the winery. Traditional tastings are led by either our winemaker or a wine educator and include an appropriate pairing. Winery tours are led by our winemaker and include a flight.
Interested in joining our wine club?
MEMBER BENEFITS
- CHOOSE the wines you want every quarter!
- Save 20% on bottles of wine
- FREE shipping for 6 or more bottles
- 30% discount on a case during the month of your birthday
- Save 20% on CCW logo wear
- Save 10% on CCW Dinners and Winemaker Series events
- Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine for you & a guest each time you visit (except during special events)
- Party at our quarterly member’s only Wine Club Social. Be the first to taste new releases, enjoy live music and dinner from a local food truck
- Receive advance notice of special events including options for purchasing early/limited wine releases.
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