Comparison
Viognier vs Chardonnay
Two full-bodied whites — which is the aromatic one?
The short answer
Viognier and Chardonnay come from the same country but sit in different territory. The main differences: Viognier has more floral character; Chardonnay has more acidity; Viognier has more fruit intensity.
Worth knowing
Viognier is intensely perfumed with apricot and blossom and comparatively low in acid; Chardonnay is nearly neutral as a grape and takes its character from where it is grown and what is done to it. That is the real distinction: one arrives with a personality, the other is given one.
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.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Viognier is more floral: high against low-medium.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Chardonnay is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Viognier is fruitier: high against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Viognier is more aromatic: high against 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.
Chardonnay is fresher: medium-plus against low-medium.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Viognier is sweeter: low-medium against low.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Viognier | Chardonnay |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Acidity | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Sweetness | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Savoury character | low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Spice | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Texture | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| 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 | 12–15°C | 12–15°C |
| Typical flavours | apricot, peach, honeysuckle, orange blossom, mango | green apple, lemon, white peach, pineapple, hazelnut |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Viognier
A full-bodied, apricot-and-honeysuckle-scented Rhône variety that nearly disappeared in the 1960s.
Grape
Chardonnay
The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it.
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