Comparison
Riesling vs Viognier
How Riesling and Viognier differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Riesling has more acidity; Viognier has more body; Riesling has more perceived freshness.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Riesling is fresher and more acidic: high against low-medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Viognier is fuller and richer: high against low-medium.
Perceived freshness
Clear differenceThe overall impression of liveliness — a composite of acidity, alcohol balance, fruit character and the absence of tiredness. Distinct from raw acidity: a wine can be high in acid yet taste heavy.
Riesling is fresher: high against low-medium.
Texture
Clear differenceMouthfeel independent of weight — from lean and cutting through to creamy, waxy or velvety. Driven by lees contact, malolactic conversion, skin contact and ageing.
Viognier is rounder and creamier in texture: high against low-medium.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Viognier is stronger and warmer: medium-plus against low-medium.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Viognier is more floral: high against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Savoury character: Similar — both low-medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Riesling | Viognier |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Body | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Texture | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Alcohol | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Sweetness | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Savoury character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | low-medium (2/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 8–11°C | 12–15°C |
| Typical flavours | lime, green apple, white peach, apricot, honey | apricot, peach, honeysuckle, orange blossom, mango |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Riesling
The most transparent and longest-lived white variety, made from bone dry to intensely sweet and almost never oaked.
Grape
Viognier
A full-bodied, apricot-and-honeysuckle-scented Rhône variety that nearly disappeared in the 1960s.
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