Grape Guide
Aligoté
WhiteBurgundy's secondary white grape variety, Aligoté produces crisp, mineral-driven wines with distinctive high acidity that serves as an excellent foil to the region's more famous Chardonnay. While historically considered utilitarian, climate change and dedicated producers are revealing this variety's potential for producing wines of genuine character and complexity when grown on appropriate sites.
Key Characteristics
- High natural acidity and mineral expression
- Early ripening with vigorous growth habits
- Susceptible to spring frost damage
- Highly site-sensitive for quality expression
- Climate change beneficiary in cooler regions
Typical Flavors
Major Regions
Burgundy (France) · Chablis · Eastern Europe · Russia · Moldova · Ukraine · Bulgaria
Also Known As
Aligotte · Alligotay · Alligoté or Alligotet (Côte de Nuits) · Beaunié or Beaunois · ?Carcairone (Val di Susa in Italy) · Chaudenet Gras (Côte Châlonnaise) · Giboulot or Giboudot (Rully and Mercurey) · Griset Blanc (Beaune) · Mahranauli (Republic of Moldova) · Plant de Trois (Gevrey · Dijon · Selongey) · Plant Gris (Meursault) · Troyen Blanc (Gevrey) · Vert Blanc (Salins in the Jura)
Overview
Origins & History
Aligoté is an ancient Burgundian variety, the offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, making it a full sibling to Chardonnay. Despite this noble parentage, Aligoté was historically considered a peasant grape, relegated to lesser vineyard sites while Chardonnay claimed the limestone slopes. The variety was traditionally used for Kir, a cocktail of white wine and crème de cassis. In recent decades, a new generation of producers has championed Aligoté as a serious wine, particularly from the village of Bouzeron, which received its own appellation in 1998.
Genetic Lineage
Aligoté shares identical parentage with Chardonnay, making them full siblings. Both are children of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.
Parents
Confirmed through DNA analysis. Aligoté inherits some of Pinot Noir's aromatic potential.
An ancient, high-yielding variety that contributed vigor and acidity to many of its offspring.
Disease Profile
Aligoté is vigorous and early budding, making it susceptible to spring frosts. Early ripening helps avoid autumn rot in most years.
Susceptibilities
Aligoté is notably susceptible to downy mildew, requiring preventive treatments in humid conditions.
Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot, particularly in wet vintages. Requires careful canopy management.
Terroir Preferences
The best Aligoté sites in Bouzeron feature clay-limestone soils that provide drainage while retaining enough water for the variety's needs.
Regional Expressions
The only appellation dedicated to Aligoté. Produces the finest, most serious examples with mineral depth and aging potential.
Notable producers: Domaine de Villaine, Domaine Roulot, Domaine Chanzy
Regional Burgundy appellation for Aligoté grown throughout the region. Quality varies widely; best examples are fresh and mineral.
Notable producers: Ponsot, Michel Bouzereau, Arnaud Ente, Michel Lafarge
Moldova has the largest Aligoté plantings in the world, with nearly 16,000 hectares. The variety thrives here, producing wines with better balance than Burgundy due to warmer ripening conditions.
Ukraine's second largest white variety, with nearly 10,000 hectares planted. Often blended with other varieties, occasionally made into sweet wines.
Planted primarily in the Moldova region of eastern Romania, with over 7,000 hectares. Produces crisp, everyday whites.