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Aligoté grape

White grape

Aligoté is a white grape known for lemon, apple, herbs. Its best-known homes are Burgundy.

StyleWhite
Body●●○○○ (2/5)
FlavoursLemon, apple, herbs
Key regionsBurgundy

Origin and history

From Burgundy, recorded since the 18th century; DNA proves it a cross of Pinot and Gouais Blanc, like Chardonnay.

Where it grows

Burgundy (Bourgogne Aligoté, Bouzeron), plus Eastern Europe: Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia.

Structure

Light to medium body, high acidity and modest alcohol; dry and usually unoaked.

Aromas, young and aged

Young: lemon, green apple, white flowers and herbs. With age (old vines): honey, hazelnut and a mineral, saline character.

Ageing

Usually best within 1–4 years; top old-vine and Bouzeron wines can age 8–10 years.

Also known as

Aligoté Doré, Aligoté Vert.

Good to know

Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise is Burgundy's only village appellation for Aligoté, and the grape is the traditional base of a Kir with crème de cassis.

Similar white grapes

Sauvignon BlancRieslingAlbariñoVerdejoViuraPalominoLoureiroArinto

Explore all grapes in the interactive guide

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