Viognier is a variety that came into vogue in the late 1980s, stimulating planting around the world. Unfortunately, the grape is highly tempermantal and most of the effort appears to have been in vain. The grape really thrives in a tiny area in the northern Rhone valley just south of Lyon. The town of Condrieu, with its remarkably steep hillside vineyards, produces whites made from Viognier that are unmatched in the world. The best examples are the most aromatically comples white wines of the world.