Press release

Bourgogne Aligoté A long-overlooked making a comeback

Bourgogne, June 2018

Bourgogne Aligoté is a gateway to the world of Bourgogne , thanks to its intrinsic quality and accessibility. This Régionale appellation has had a low profile, but is nonetheless a crowd-pleaser. It has long been overlooked alongside the more prestigious Bourgogne wines, but is now regaining popularity, which will come as no surprise to its fans. The appellation has been growing in stature and is showing undeniable quality, which means Bourgogne Aligoté is being seen in a new light. Aware that this is a legacy offering great potential, winemakers have been improving their methods of working with Aligoté, as they have with other Bourgogne white appellations such as Bouzeron, the only Bourgogne Village AOC produced from this . Today, Bourgogne Aligoté is back in the spotlight, offering delightful drinking pleasure at excellent value for money.

Unique: The Aligoté varietal is not grown anywhere else in the world

On a genetic level, Aligoté is a direct descendant of . Youthful and contemporary, and something of an outlier, it nonetheless comes from a noble lineage. It is a natural hybridization between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, a varietal that is no longer grown commercially in France. It thrives on limestone and marl hillsides.

A varietal with a bright future, it has a strong identity and is 100% Burgundian.

 17th century: Cultivation of Aligoté began in Bourgogne.  1937: Creation of the “Bourgogne Aligoté” Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée.  The second white Bourgogne varietal, it makes up 100% of the Bourgogne Aligoté Régionale appellation and the Bouzeron Village appellation. It can also be used in blends for Coteaux Bourguignons or Crémant de Bourgogne wines. It is grown across the whole Bourgogne.  6% of Bourgogne vines (50% , 41% Pinot Noir, 3% others).  1,600 hectares planted across the Bourgogne.  12.4 million bottles per year.

©BIVB / Jessica Vuillaume

Convivial: An authentic Bourgogne wine

Bourgogne Aligoté is one of the most generous crisp white wines, true to its native Bourgogne and its terroirs which bring out its aromatic diversity. It is a pure, balanced white wine, with a lovely crispness that is characteristic of the varietal. Classified as a Régionale appellation, it is produced across the whole of the Bourgogne region by the majority of winemakers.

This tempting and vivacious wine stands out for its abundance of fruit.

Discreetly elegant, it is in tune with the times, offering simple ©BIVB / www.armellephotographe.com drinking pleasure thanks to its authenticity.

Bourgogne Aligoté is made for sharing, at family gatherings or between friends, and is a wine for the moment.

Surprising: Some unexpected discoveries

The quintessential aperitif wine, it is time to move on from its image as the wine used with crème de cassis in a Kir - a role which does not do justice to Bourgogne Aligoté. Improvements in quality mean its fruity or floral notes would be lost in this combination.

©BIVB / Image & Associés

Today, Bourgogne Aligoté can bring out taste sensations on its own, and is worthy of gracing any table.

. It makes a perfect match in any season for fresh bread with slices of rustic saucisson. It is one of the few wines that can tame a taboulé or a powerful goat cheese, and will enhance contemporary salads.

. It delights the taste buds with grilled fish or oysters.

. Its crisp citrus notes go well with steamed vegetables and exotic rice which usually accompanies fish.

. True to its roots in the Bourgogne region, it is the ideal companion for local specialties such as gougères, snails, and jambon persillé.

2/3 Accessible: Ticks all the boxes for quality, price and pleasure

The notoriety of Bourgogne Aligoté has grown steadily over the past decade. Its wide palette responds to consumers’ expectations for discoveries. On top of this, its modest price (typically less than €10, or even €8 when leaving the cellar) makes it an excellent deal. The growing popularity of Bourgogne Aligoté inspired a group of passionate producers to create an event, bringing together some 400 Bourgogne wine industry professionals for the first Aligoté trade fair last April, which was born after the foundation of a promotion body: Les Aligoteurs.

Ambitious: A bright future

The unique Aligoté grape has its own original characteristics, which makes it cherished product of the Bourgogne region. A great many winemakers cultivate it and bring out the best of this varietal in relation to its terroir. They employ various modes of vinification, some using stainless-steel vats, others using oak barrels, with different ageing ©BIVB / www.armellephotographe.com periods, sometimes on lees. Combining tradition and modernity, Bourgogne Aligoté has in recent years been taken to new heights.

The power of Bourgogne terroir combined with the rigorous work of those who produce it make Bourgogne Aligoté a wine to discover.

#BourgogneAligoté

Contact: Cécile Mathiaud Head of PR - BIVB Tel. +33 (0)3 80 25 95 76 - +33 (0)6 08 56 85 56 - [email protected]

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