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| Aligoté | |
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| Species: | Vitis Vinifera |
| Also called: | Blanc de Troyes, Vert Blanc, Chaudenet Gris, and Plant gris |
| Origin: | France |
| Notable regions: | (see major regions) |
Aligoté is a white grape used to make dry white wines in the Burgundy region of France, and which also has significant plantings in much of Eastern Europe including Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria. With 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres), it was the 22nd most planted vine variety in the world in 2004.[1] The wine was first recorded in Burgundy in the 18th century.[2]
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Description
Aligoté is used to produce a varietal white wine, and can be used in the blend of Burgundy's sparkling wine, called Crémant de Bourgogne. In the varietal Bourgogne Aligoté up to 15% Chardonnay grapes may be blended in.[3] Traditionally, the cocktail kir (also known as vin blanc cassis in French) is made by adding cassis to an Aligoté white wine. In France, where it often loses land to more prestigious grape varieties, Aligoté is often planted only in the poorer vineyard sites at the tops and bottoms of the slopes.[4] This variety is more tolerant to the cold. The grape ripens early with moderate yields[5] and produces wines high in acidity that can be drunk young. Its aroma includes elements of apples and lemons.[3] Clive Coates says it is a variety very much of secondary importance in Burgundy which produces a light, primeur-style wine with slightly herbal flavour and rather higher acidity than the Chardonnay.[6] Aligoté adds acidity and structure to other varieties when blended.[7] In 1997, Aligoté was added to the authorized grape varieties for the Bouzeron communal appellation, adding Bouzeron-Aligoté AOC to the Bourgogne Aligoté AOC, and further restricting the yield for the former with respect to the latter from 60 hl/ha to 45 hl/ha.[8] The grape is often blended with Sacy to complement its acidity.[9]
Regional production
The grape is the second most popular white grape variety grown in Burgundy after Chardonnay, though it lies a long way behind in terms of planted area. The vines were once inter-planted and field blended with Chardonnay for the benefit of its added acidity but the vines have long since been separated.[10]In Burgundy the grape can be found along the fringe edges of the Côte-d'Or along Route Nationale 74. It can also be found in Mâconnais and Côte Chalonnaise.[11] There are also small plantings just east of the Rhone Valley around the city Die.[10] It has its own AOC, Bourgogne Aligoté. Aligoté is also produced in Eastern Europe[7], Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova.[4] In Bulgaria, the grape is prized for its blending qualities and high acid with more than double the quantity planted here than in the grape's ancestral home of Burgundy. [11]. The grape is primarily found in the Stara Zagora Province around Chirpan.[11] In Russia it is used to make sparkling wines[7] with varietal wines being made along the coast of the Black Sea around Gelendzhik.[12] Aligoté has also been produced, although in very small quantity, by Australian wineries.[7] The wine is also grown in Washington State where it is resistant to the cold weather.[4] The grape is also used in California, mostly for blending. The Aligoté grape is also known by the names Blanc de Troyes, Vert Blanc, Chaudenet Gris, and Plant gris.[13] There have been small, experimental plantings in Chile.[10]
Origins
Originating in Burgundy, DNA fingerprinting has linked the grape's ancestry to the Pinot noir and Gouais blanc grapes.[14][15]
Synonyms
Synonyms for Aligoté include Aligotay, Alligotay, Alligoté, Blanc de Troyes, Carcairone Blanc, Carcarone, Carchierone, Chaudenet, Chaudenet Gras, Giboudot Blanc, Griset Blanc, Karkarone Blank, Melon de Jura, Muhranuli, Mukhranudi, Pistone, Plant de Trois, Plant de Trois Raisins, Plant Gris, Purion Blanc, Selon Molon, Selon Odart, Troyen Blanc, Vert Blanc.[15]
External links
References
- ^ "Vine varieties". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition). (2006). Ed. Jancis Robinson. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 746. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
- ^ Aligote Wine | Wine Learning Center | Wine She Wants | Enjoy Beer Wine Liquor
- ^ a b Bourgogne Aligote Wine Information, French Wine Guide in Burgundy
- ^ a b c http://www.steelewines.com/downloads/sal01.pdf
- ^ Grape Varieties
- ^ C.Coates 'Encyclopedia of the Wines and Domaines of France pg 32 Cassel & Co 2000 ISBN 0304354414
- ^ a b c d Aligote a high acid white wine variety
- ^ Wines of France - White grape varieties
- ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 232 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
- ^ a b c Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 35 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144
- ^ a b c J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 179 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
- ^ C. Fallis The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine pg 380 Global Book Publishing 2004 ISBN 1740480503
- ^ Food and Wine Dictionary: Aligoté | International Recipes
- ^ Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 112 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144
- ^ a b Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Aligote, accessed on June 18, 2008
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