On Saturday, May 2 we hosted the nation’s first event focused solely on Aligoté, but it was so much more than just an event. The Aligoté Affair was a huge step towards recognizing this fantastic and largely unknown white variety.
Aligoté is one of the most grown white grapes in Burgundy, second only to Chardonnay, but there it has only really been known and used as the base for the Kir cocktail. The grape produces a crisp, high-acidity, refreshing white wine, that is loved by inexperienced wine drinkers and wine connoisseurs alike. Because of the similarities in climate that allow Oregon to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that rival their Burgundian roots, it’s no surprise that Aligoté also grows beautifully here. Still, there are very few growers and producers — so few in fact, that it’s only included in the “other white varieties” category in the state’s viticulture reporting.
With the goal of the event being to bring awareness to Aligoté, we knew it was an initiative that would be far more impactful if we included the other local growers and producers in the Willamette Valley. Our team connected with those wineries, and ultimately we hosted eleven additional wineries at the event: Abbey Road Farm, Andante, Beckham Estate, Björnson, Concinnitas Farms, Domaine Divio, Flâneur, Limited Addition, Lumos, Moffett, and Suzor. The event was majorly successful — it sold out with 150 tickets and a waitlist, the weather was perfect (despite a morning of thunder and lightning), the wines were all unique and delicious, and the perfectly curated food by Alchemy NW Catering was delightful. But the biggest sign of success was that the guests came early and stayed late with smiles on their faces, engaging questions for the winemakers, and compliments of the experience.
At Balsall Creek we have been thrilled with how Aligoté has been received by our consumers — with a unique and extremely drinkable quality, it was our top selling white wine our first year open, and remains a fan favorite both at the Estate House and offsite. Not only unique in its flavor profile, it’s unique as a grape as well in that it is incredibly high-yielding and doesn’t require dropping fruit to concentrate flavor.
We are excited about what this grape has to offer, and, based on the turnout of the Aligoté Affair, the community is ready to enjoy and elevate this special variety, too!
