Of course, there are exceptions. There have been many changes at Zaca Mesa since its founding in 1972 in Santa Barbara County, including winemakers, owners and various types of wines. Pinot noir, for example, no longer is made, but most of the Zaca Mesa roads lead to Rhone. Roussanne is one of the three most important white-wine grapes of France's Rhone Valley, but very little is planted in California. And for a good reason.
Few people know about it, most people are afraid to experiment, and that makes it a tough sell.
But it can go with so many foods, especially spicy ones. But the winery doesn't make a viognier per se. I do like it in our roussanne, and also in our chardonnay and syrah. That's because the winemaker didn't muddy the waters by putting the wine through malolactic fermentation. Although Daniel Gehrs has been gone from Zaca Mesa for years, this wine is still in his spicy, clean style.