kir, alternative name for a vin blanc cassis, dry white wine and blackcurrant liqueur, named after a hero of the Burgundian resistance movement during the Second World War, Canon Kir, who was also mayor of Dijon. Blackcurrants are probably a more important crop on the hautes côtes than grapes and most of the best-quality blackcurrant liqueurs, or eaux-de-vie de cassis, are made here. The typical base wine is the relatively acid Bourgogne aligoté and to most palates a dash of full-strength liqueur is all that is needed. A kir royal is made with sparkling rather than still white wine.
