Aligoté
Burgundy's 'other' white — a high-acid Pinot × Gouais cross, best known for crisp everyday whites and the village appellation of Bouzeron.
About Aligoté
Aligoté is Burgundy's second white grape, long overshadowed by Chardonnay — to which it is a full sibling, both being natural crosses of Pinot and Gouais Blanc. First recorded in the region in the 18th century, it is prized for brisk acidity, citrus and green-apple freshness and a chalky minerality that reflects Burgundy's limestone. Traditionally the wine of choice for Kir, blended with crème de cassis, it has shed that humble image as growers champion old vines and low yields. The village of Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise has its own appellation exclusively for Aligoté, producing structured, ageworthy wines that reveal saline, nutty complexity. Light-bodied, energetic and food-friendly, a well-sited Aligoté offers Burgundian minerality at a fraction of Chardonnay's price.
Variety profile
Editorial notes
Bouzeron and old-vine cuvées show Aligoté's serious side; entry-level Bourgogne Aligoté is a crisp, value aperitif and the traditional base for Kir.