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Grape variety : Pinot Auxerrois

Alsace Chaud Lapin

Alsace Chaud Lapin

Domaine Etienne Simonis Alsace
€14.50
  • Bio
  • Biodynamic
Auxerrois

Auxerrois

Domaine Hassenforder Alsace
€12.00
  • HVE
Crémant Blanc

Crémant Blanc

Platz François & Fils Alsace
€16.00
  • Bio
Crémant Brut Bio

Crémant Brut Bio

Famille Ruhlmann-Schutz Alsace
€13.60
  • Bio
  • HVE
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Pinot Auxerrois: Origins and Unique Characteristics of This Grape Variety

Pinot Auxerrois, an elegant white grape variety, is a hidden gem of French vineyards. Mainly grown in Alsace and some regions in northeastern France, it is renowned for its aromatic white wines and refined sparkling wines. Discover how to enhance this delicate grape with perfect food pairings and explore its origins, terroirs, and aromatic characteristics through this guide.

Pinot Auxerrois at a glance

  • Color: white grape
  • Origin: Lorraine; a Gouais Blanc x Pinot Noir cross
  • Regions: Alsace: Alsace AOC and Crémant d'Alsace; also Lorraine (Moselle AOC)
  • Profile: soft, round, gently aromatic dry whites, plus refined Crémant and sparkling wines
  • Serving temperature: 8 to 10 °C
  • Cellaring: the dry whites and Crémant are best enjoyed young, on their freshness

Description and Origins of Pinot Auxerrois

Originating in Lorraine, Pinot Auxerrois is often mistaken for Pinot Blanc due to their similarities. However, it is a distinct variety, a cross between Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir. Its cultivation dates back to the Middle Ages, where it was valued for its ability to produce generous and aromatic white wines. Thanks to its early ripening, it thrives in the cool climates and diverse soils of Alsace and northern French vineyards.

Key Terroirs Where Pinot Auxerrois is Cultivated

Pinot Auxerrois, also known as Auxerrois, is primarily cultivated in Alsace, where it is often used in blends for Crémant and dry white wines from the region. It is notably found in the AOC Alsace and AOC Crémant d’Alsace appellations, where it can be vinified alone or as a complement to other varieties. Outside Alsace, it is grown in Lorraine and some northern French vineyards, particularly in AOC Moselle. These terroirs, with limestone soils, provide ideal conditions for this grape to express its finesse.

Aromatic Characteristics of Pinot Auxerrois

Characteristics of Pinot Auxerrois in Dry White Wine:

Appearance: White wines made from Pinot Auxerrois exhibit a pale yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose: Delicate aromas of white fruits (apple, pear), white flowers, and a hint of honey.

Palate: Pinot Auxerrois is known for its round and generous palate, with refreshing acidity and a finish that can be slightly spiced.

Characteristics of Pinot Auxerrois in Sparkling Wine:

Appearance: In sparkling wines, Pinot Auxerrois offers a pale topaz color.

Nose: The bouquet is elegant, blending notes of white-fleshed fruits (apple, pear) and white flowers, with hints of brioche or hazelnut.

Palate: Sparkling wine made from Pinot Auxerrois is characterized by its roundness and balance. The liveliness of the bubbles enhances the delicate flavors of ripe fruits, awakening the palate.

Best Food Pairings with Pinot Auxerrois

Here are our tips for perfect food pairings with a bottle of dry white wine or sparkling wine made from Pinot Auxerrois:

  • Quiche Lorraine (AOC Alsace Blanc)
  • Pike-perch filet with beurre blanc sauce (AOC Alsace Blanc)
  • Roasted capon (AOC Moselle Blanc)
  • Camembert / Brie (AOC Crémant d’Alsace)
  • Mirabelle tart (IGP Côtes de Meuse Blanc)

Pinot Auxerrois, with its roundness and complex aromatic profile, is an essential grape for lovers of white wines and Crémants from Alsace and Moselle. Discover our selection of dry white wines and sparkling wines made from Pinot Auxerrois on Avenue des Vins and let yourself be charmed by our cuvées directly sourced from the estate or château of your choice.

Serving Pinot Auxerrois at the right temperature

Pinot Auxerrois gives soft, round, gently aromatic dry whites, so it is served chilled but never icy. A temperature of around 8 to 10 °C keeps its freshness and its delicate aromas of white fruit and flowers in balance, while its gentle roundness stays supple on the palate. Served too cold, an aromatic white like this closes up and loses some of its charm; a touch warmer and it feels rounder and more expressive. The Crémant and sparkling styles are best poured a little cooler, around 8 °C, to keep the bubbles lively. Like most dry white wines meant to be enjoyed on their fruit and freshness, Pinot Auxerrois is at its best when it is not over-chilled.

Pinot Auxerrois in the blends of Alsace

In Alsace, Pinot Auxerrois is rarely the name on the label, yet it plays a quiet but important role in the region’s white wines. It is frequently blended with its close relative Pinot Blanc, to which it brings roundness, softness and a gentle aromatic lift, and the two are often bottled together under the Alsace Pinot Blanc appellation. Auxerrois is also a classic component of Edelzwicker, the traditional Alsace blend of several white grapes, and it is widely used in Crémant d’Alsace, the region’s sparkling wine, where its suppleness helps round out the cuvée. Across the vineyards of Alsace, this discreet grape adds the soft, easy-drinking character that makes many of the region’s everyday whites so approachable.

Frequently asked questions about Pinot Auxerrois

What is Pinot Auxerrois?

Pinot Auxerrois is a white grape grown mainly in Alsace and parts of northeastern France, such as Lorraine and the Moselle. It produces soft, round, gently aromatic dry white wines and is also used in Crémant d’Alsace sparkling wines, often blended with Pinot Blanc.

What does Pinot Auxerrois taste like?

Pinot Auxerrois gives soft, round white wines with delicate aromas of white fruit such as apple and pear, white flowers and a touch of honey. The palate is generous and balanced by a refreshing acidity, sometimes finishing on a lightly spiced note.

Is Pinot Auxerrois the same as Pinot Blanc?

No, Pinot Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc are two distinct grape varieties, even though they look similar and are frequently blended together in Alsace. In practice, many Alsace wines labeled simply “Pinot Blanc” contain a proportion of Auxerrois, which adds roundness and softness.

What temperature should you serve Pinot Auxerrois?

Pinot Auxerrois is best served chilled, at around 8 to 10 °C. At this temperature its freshness and delicate aromas stay in balance, while the Crémant d’Alsace sparkling style is best poured a little cooler to keep the bubbles lively.