Introduction

Wine lovers in the UK increasingly seek wines that offer both character and elegance. Something beyond the usual suspects. Val di Luna 2020 Viognier DOC Piemonte delivers just that: a distinctive aromatic white from northern Italy, combining lush fruit, floral notes and a sense of place in the Piedmont region. In this review I’ll guide you through everything: the grape’s heritage, the terroir, winemaking style, appearance, aroma and palate, texture, ageing potential, food pairings, strengths and anything to be aware of. By the end you’ll know whether this is a wine to buy, cellar, or enjoy now.

Region & Terroir: Piedmont, Monferrato & DOC Piemonte

Val di Luna is made in Piemonte (Piedmont), in the Monferrato hills, one of the classic wine-producing areas of northern Italy. Although Piedmont is more famous globally for red wines like Barolo, Barbera or Nebbiolo, its white wines are often underrated; they can be exquisite when made with care.

Key features of the terroir that influence this Viognier include:

• Climate: Piedmont has warm days and cooler nights. This diurnal swing helps preserve acidity in white varieties, even late-ripening or aromatic ones like Viognier.
• Soil: The soil in Monferrato is often calcareous (limestone / chalk) with good drainage. Such soils impart minerality and help maintain freshness.
• Sun exposure & altitude: Viognier benefits from ample sun to reach full aromatic expression, but cooler nights and moderate elevation help retain finesse instead of allowing the wine to lose its balance.

This combination of climate, soil and exposure gives Val di Luna Viognier its aromatic perfume, fruit intensity and minerally backbone.

Grape Variety: Viognier

Viognier is originally a French grape, best known in regions like the Rhône Valley. It tends to produce rich, full-bodied whites with intense aromas — stone fruit (peach, apricot), floral (violets, orange blossom), sometimes a creamy texture if oak-aged or if lees contact is significant. However, Viognier can easily become cloying or lack acidity if grown in too warm a site or harvested too late.

Val di Luna’s version is interesting because it combines the aromatic strength of Viognier with Piedmont’s cooler hours and minerally soils. In this wine, you can expect ripe apricot and peach notes, a floral lift, and balancing acidity sufficient to avoid flabbiness.

Technical Data & Winemaking

Here are the known technical points and winemaking approach for Val di Luna 2020 Viognier DOC Piemonte:

• Alcohol: ~13% ABV.
• Acidity: modestly low (Viognier style tends to have less acidity than varieties like Sauvignon Blanc).
• Residual sugar: Very small (dry style).
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation is used to preserve fruit and avoid overt oak influence.
• The vines are grown in calcareous soil, helping minerality show through.

What this suggests is a style aimed at expressing fruit and aroma rather than oak or heavy extraction. The wine is likely made to drink relatively young, though with good balance it may gain nuance over a few years.

Appearance

In the glass, Val di Luna 2020 shows a pale straw-yellow hue with slight golden or green reflections. The clarity is clean and bright, suggesting a fresh wine. The body appears medium-weight: not thin, but neither heavily viscous.

Aroma & Nose

On the nose, the wine is aromatic and inviting. Expect a bouquet that includes:

• Stone fruits: ripe apricot, peach.
• Floral notes: possibly white flowers, blossom, maybe delicate honeysuckle or orange blossom.
• Secondary nuances: a touch of minerality, maybe chalky or flinty undertones from the soil, which balances the fruit and keeps it from being overly simple.

Because Viognier can develop rich, perfumed aromas, Val di Luna strikes a balance — you get richness and aroma but with freshness rather than heaviness.

Palate & Texture

Taste reveals more detail and balance:

• Fruit flavour: peach and apricot dominate on entry, possibly with a little softer stone fruit or gentle citrus peel as it develops.
• Acidity and balance: Though Viognier naturally has less sharp acidity, the cooler nights in Piedmont and perhaps some vineyard technique (earlier harvest, shade management) help preserve enough acidity to give lift and prevent the wine from feeling heavy or flat.
• Texture: Medium-bodied. Smooth on the palate. Probably some roundness at the entry, but not overly oily or lush.
• Finish: Clean and refreshing, with a lingering stone fruit taste and perhaps floral after-notes, and a minerally or saline edge that gives length and elegance.

Ageing Potential

Val di Luna 2020 is crafted to be enjoyed now, but it does offer modest potential to evolve:

• Best drinking window: Now to 3-5 years.
• Over time (if stored properly: cool, stable temperature, away from light), some secondary notes may appear — dried fruit, more subtle honey tones, or a more pronounced mineral edge. But it's unlikely to develop heavy oak or overly complex tertiary characters because of its style.

For UK consumers, this means you can open it now for its fruity, fresh energy, or stash a few bottles to see how it develops subtly if you enjoy watching wines evolve.

Food Pairing & Serving Suggestions

Val di Luna 2020 Viognier is food-friendly and pairs well with dishes that complement its fruit and floral aromas without overwhelming them.

• Seafood is a great match: white fish, shellfish, perhaps a buttery lobster or scallops with a light sauce.
• White meats like chicken or turkey work nicely, especially when accompanied by softer herbs (thyme, tarragon) or a mild cream or citrus sauce.
• Vegetarian options: risotto with mushrooms or mild cheeses, pasta with herb and garlic, roasted vegetables with a bit of char, or dishes featuring squash or pumpkin.
• Soft cheeses: chèvre, young pecorino, ricotta – these allow the wine’s flavours to shine without clashing.

To serve it best: chill to around 10-12°C. This temperature helps preserve the aromas and balance. Use a good white wine glass, large enough for the bouquet to open. There’s no need to decant, but giving it a few minutes in the glass to breathe helps show its fuller aromatic potential.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

1. Aromatic intensity – The stone fruit and flower aromatics are clear and pleasant.
2. Balance – Though Viognier can be heavy, here there’s enough acidity and minerality to keep it fresh.
3. Sense of terroir – The Piedmont soil and climate show through, giving this wine character beyond just fruit.
4. Versatility – Works well as an aperitif, with food, or for casual or more formal dinners.
5. Value – For its quality, it offers good interest, especially for UK buyers looking for aromatic whites from Europe beyond the mainstream.

Weaknesses

1. Lower acidity – If you prefer very crisp / zesty whites, you may find this a bit softer.
2. Limited oak or complexity – If your preference is for heavily oaked, buttery whites (Chardonnay style), this will not satisfy that.
3. Drinking window – Best consumed within a few years; it is not built for very long ageing.
4. Potential for sweetness perception – Though dry, some residual sugar or ripe fruit may make it seem slightly sweeter to those used to very dry wines.

Overall Verdict

Val di Luna 2020 Viognier DOC Piemonte is a wine of charm, aromatic clarity and elegance. It doesn’t try to be something it is not. Instead, it delivers what Viognier promises: lush fruit, floral character, texture, and a sense of place. For UK wine drinkers who enjoy aromatics, stone fruits and wines that are both interesting and accessible, this wine is a strong choice.

On a scale of 5, I’d give it 4.3/5. Very enjoyable now, with potential to develop subtlety in the short term.

If you see a bottle, buy one to enjoy now, perhaps another to track how it evolves.