Aligoté
Overview
Aligoté is Burgundy’s secondary white grape, producing wines under the Bourgogne Aligoté AOC. It is high in acidity, relatively light-bodied, and typically meant for early drinking — the classic base for Kir (Aligoté + crème de cassis). However, old-vine Aligoté (especially from Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise, or from old parcels in Chablis and Pernand-Vergelesses) can be surprisingly complex and age-worthy.
Key Regions
- Burgundy generally; Bouzeron (Côte Chalonnaise) has its own AOC for Aligoté
- Chablis — Dauvissat produces a Coteaux Bourguignons from old-vine Gamay; several domaines include Aligoté
- Savigny-lès-Beaune / Pernand-Vergelesses — Simon Rollin (Pernand) notes Aligoté flowers later than Chardonnay, making it more vulnerable to spring weather
Style Notes
Bright, tart, citrus-dominant. At its simplest: a quaffing white. From old vines: richer, more textured, with genuine complexity. Domains like Aubert de Villaine in Bouzeron have elevated the grape’s reputation significantly.
Viticulture Notes
Flowers later than Chardonnay (along with Pinot Noir), making it more vulnerable to cold snaps at flowering. In 2024, at Domaine Rollin in Pernand-Vergelesses, yields were shorter for Aligoté and reds than for Chardonnay for exactly this reason.
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2026 #121.pdf