Aligote
Definition - What does Aligote mean?
Aligoté is a white wine grape of the Vitis vinifera species used to make wines in the regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, France. It is also cultivated in some wine-producing countries in Eastern Europe like Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Russia and Romania.
The grape dates back to the 18th century and throughout the world where it is cultivated, its plays a major role in the wine industry as a blending grape.
While it grows in warmer climates, Aligoté excels in cooler climate where its acidity is maintained at higher levels.
WineFrog explains Aligote
Regardless of the region where the Aligoté white wine grape is cultivated, it is well-known for its strong acidity and the vine's ability to maintain a higher level of acidity in comparison to other white varietal vines. The varietal's acidic content is is why it has such a unique blending ability with other varietals that possess fuller components of sugar and alcohol.
Aligoté is also known for its vegetal character, making it also an ideal blending grape for sweeter, fruitier wines. It can also be found present-day in Australia, Canada, Washington state, California and small plantings in Chile.
In Burgundy, it is the second most widely planted varietal following Chardonnay, which it is often blended with. In Burgundy, Aligoté is primarily used to make sparkling wine, as it is in Bulgaria and Russia.
