The garden-party wine

The most floral of whites, Viognier is your pour for a warm spring day|Sara Schneider

Perfect pairings for Viognier

With floral aromas, sweet-seeming fruit flavors, and rich textures, Viognier is made for bold, exotic dishes. It’s also great with cheeses and nuts. Some favorite pairings:

• Sweet: shellfish Scallops, lobster, crab, and shrimp
• Aromatic seasonings: Cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, ginger (in Moroccan tagines, for instance, as well as mild Indian curries and Caribbean dishes)
• Nuts: Cashews, macadamias
• Soft and semisoft cheeses: Fresh chèvre, gruyère, aged gouda, and double and triple creams like Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam or French brie

Macadamia Chicken with Orange-Ginger Sauce and Coconut Pilaf
We’ve layered this dish with tropical flavors to match Viognier’s perfume and bright citrus and stone-fruit flavors.