Go to section: Aligoté tasting characteristics | What is aligoté? | Aligoté in Australia | Aligoté around the world | Aligoté to try
“Sadly, I can count on one hand the amount of Australian aligoté that comes my way,” wrote Jane Faulkner in the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion. She was referring to the 2022 Garagiste Tuerong Aligoté, which picked up 95 points and is the only example in this year’s guide.
Jane’s a big fan of aligoté's citrusy flavours, tang and mouth-watering acidity, which make it perfect to enjoy on its own or with food. “Of course, more producers opt for planting chardonnay because it commands a better price,” she says. “I’m all for diversity and those who produce aligoté are generally dedicated to it.”
Aligoté is known for its hallmark acidity.
Aligoté tasting characteristics
Aligoté wines are bright and citrusy, with trademark high acidity, saline minerality and alpine herb notes along with apple, green pear and lemon characters. While many examples drink exceptionally well in their youth, those matured on lees and/or in seasoned oak could easily see a decade in the cellar.
What is aligoté?
So, what’s so special about this bright, fresh, anytime white? It is the third most common Burgundy variety, where it is used for still whites and sometimes Crémant de Borgonone. It suits that latter thanks to its high acidity, a quality that lends the grape to Australia’s cooler regions, although there’s not a lot of it on these shores.Garagiste's Barnaby Flanders.
Aligoté in Australia
Garagiste winemaker Barnaby Flanders only has access to three short rows, having sourced aligoté from Andrew Hickinbotham’s Dromana vineyard since 2017. “If you look it in the context of what does well on the Peninsula, obviously chardonnay and pinot are stalwarts. It’s not far removed to go well, why wouldn’t aligoté work down here,” he says. “The more people make it, the more people will talk about it and the more people will drink it.”In the King Valley, Marc Lunt of Terrason Wines has access to fruit from 2.5ha of aligoté vines at Darling Estate, which were grafted from the same Dromana site.
It suits the region, Marc says, for “its healthy natural acidity, alpine herb notes (ironically) and citrus aromatics.” He makes two styles, a ‘drink now’ version and a Burgundy-inspired ‘1er’ that’ll easily handle 10 years in the cellar.
Aligoté around the world
Outside of Australia and France, aligoté is grown in Eastern Europe (for sparkling wines) and there are some plantings in Canada and the United States, namely California and Oregon.
Aligoté to try
2022 Garagiste Tuerong Aligoté, Mornington Peninsula VIC2022 Sentio Aligoté, King Valley VIC
2021 Terrason 1er Aligoté, VIC
2021 Henri Naudin-Ferrand Mallon Bourgogne Aligoté, France
Image credit: Garagiste.
Words: Nola James.
Latest Articles
-
Meet the winemaker
How Chris Carpenter is building upon Hickinbotham’s impressive legacy in McLaren Vale
28 Aug 2025 -
Wine Lists
The 17 best wines from the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion
28 Aug 2025 -
News
Jasper Hill is releasing its latest wines on September 1 – and they are expected to sell out fast
28 Aug 2025 -
From the tasting team
Katrina Butler on TarraWarra's spectacular 2024 vintage release
27 Aug 2025