News Articles

“Aligoté is quietly gaining momentum in Oregon, where winemakers believe the Burgundian grape may be uniquely suited to the state’s evolving climate–and today’s wine drinkers… Rather than attempting to replicate French examples, Oregon winemakers are discovering what Aligoté looks like when shaped by the Willamette Valley’s volcanic and marine sedimentary soils, long summer days and […]

“It’s a serious wine, a high-quality wine, but it’s also a bright and fresh style of wine that I think for a lot of people is just more approachable,” offered Jon Owens of Balsall Creek. The winery, in the Chehalem Mountains outside of Newberg, is a leader in the effort to elevate aligoté in Oregon.

Founder and co-owner, Lesli Owens, and Director of Marketing and Sales, Emily Yensen, on air with KOIN AM Extra’s Wine Wednesday to promote the Aligoté Affair.

There’s no question Pinot Noir has been quite prolific over the centuries. Coupled with Gouais Blanc, the pair has produced more than 20 unique grape varieties… One of them, Aligoté, is quietly finding a loyal following with both winegrowers and wine lovers. As Burgundy’s second-most-planted white grape, Aligoté has long been appreciated by the French

After Jon’s career kept him traveling, building something side by side changed their lives… “The business has just become a part of our lives.” Rather than straining the relationship, the closeness has been grounding. “We get along better now than ever before.”

For the first time in North America, one grape variety is getting its own celebration. Balsall Creek Vineyards, a family-run estate in the Willamette Valley, announces the Aligoté Affair, the first event of its kind in the United States dedicated entirely to Aligoté on May 2, 2026.

Jon Owens, co-founder of Balsall Creek Winery in the Willamette Valley, makes multiple single-variety wines, including regional stars Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But he has found that outliers Aligoté and Sauvignon Blanc are actually selling more briskly. “Last year, Aligoté was our top-selling white wine by volume and … Sauvignon Blanc was our top-selling white