Aligoté
A vinifera white (Burgundy, France; cool-continental).
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -8°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- High
- Disease tolerance
- Moderate
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Graft requirement
- Graft Required
- US availability
- Rare
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -8°F. Cold-tender; wants a mild winter or protected site.
Needs roughly 2200 growing degree-days to ripen, an early-season variety (Winkler I-II). Finishes early, well before a hard fall frost.
Foliar-disease pressure is heavy for this variety, a intensive spray program in a humid climate. Plan on a full, well-timed fungicide schedule.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
High vigor. Wants leaner ground and active canopy management, or fruit hides in shade.
Low heat tolerance. Bakes and loses acid on hot sites; favors cooler ground.
Moderate water demand. Average moisture needs for a wine grape.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-susceptible: plant grafted onto resistant rootstock.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growKerner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Riesling
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Grüner Veltliner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Chardonnay
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Scheurebe
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Gewürztraminer
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksItasca
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (5 pathogen-steps improved)
Louise Swenson
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (5 pathogen-steps improved)
Cayuga White
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (5 pathogen-steps improved)
Cabernet Blanc
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (5 pathogen-steps improved)
Sauvignac
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (5 pathogen-steps improved)
Divona
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (6 pathogen-steps improved)
Could Aligoté grow on your land?
See how Aligoté scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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