Gamay: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
Gamay  Image source: Wikimedia Commons The Gamay grape is thought to have appeared first in the village of the Gamay, south of Beaune, in the 1360s. In 1395, the Duke of Burgundy Philippe the Bold outlawed the cultivation of the grape, sixty years later Philippe the Good also issued an edict against Gamay – they both believed it was reducing their area’s reputation. As it was used in Beaujolais Nouveau it had a modern knock to its reputation when the young wine had some poor seasons. The grape is synonymous with Beaujolais, south Burgundy. These are defined as: Brouilly: Bold raspberry, ripe peach and a touch of soil Chénas: Medium-bold aromas of peony and rose and – spicy woody notes with age Chiroubles: Elegant aromas of cherry, peony, red currant and violets Côte de Brouilly: Medium-bold aromas of fresh grapes, iris and plum Fleurie: Elegant aromas of blackcurrant, iris, peach,and violets Juliénas: Bold aromas of cinnamon, redcurrant, strawberry and violets Morgon: Bold aromas of cherry, peach, plum and violets Moulin-à-Vent: Bold aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and violets Régnié: Medium-bold aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry and a hint of spiciness Saint-Amour: Elegant aromas of iris, plum, redcurrant  Image source: beaujolais.com Gamay is also extensively grown in the Loire Valley around Tours. |
Taste/smell: Very varied descriptions – blackcurrant and raspberry, banana and violets, some say there’s a tang of potting soil.  Image source: winefolly.com Varieties/Mutations A mutation of a Gamay N variety produces grapes with a coloured pulp, and a coloured/tinted Gamay. Others mutations are: Gamay Beaujolais, Gamay de Chaudenay, Gamay du Rhône, Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc, Gamay Noir Droit, Gamay St-Laurent, Gamay teinturiers, Napa Gamay, Regner. : | Description:  Image source: plantgrape.fr Young shoots have a low to medium density of prostrate hairs, young leaves are yellow with bronze spots. Adult leaves are circular, either entire or with five lobes. It produces short ellipsoid berries.  Image source: plantgrape.fr According to DNA analysis Gamay is a member of the vast family of Burgundian grapes spawned by Pinot Noir and obscure white grape variety Gouais Blanc – centuries ago. It is also related to all the other Pinots, Chardonnay and Melon de Bourgogne, the Muscadet grape. Gamay is sensitive to grey rot, phomopsis, wood diseases, grape moths and grapewine yellows. |
| Gamay producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: not found France: Beujolais, Burgundy, Loire. Italy: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia, Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria. USA: California, Oregon. Chile: Colchagua, Coquimbo, Elqui, Maipo, Mauie, San Antonio. Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: not found Australia: Adelaide Hills, Gippsland, Granite Belt, Hunter Valley, Mornington Peninsula, North Eastern Victoria, Tasmania, Yarra Valley. China: Gansu, Ningxia. Shandong, Shanxi, Tianjin, Xinjiang. Germany: Baden, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Württemberg. India: not found New Zealand: Central Otaga, Hawke’s Bay. Portugal: Dão, Douro Valley, Lisboa, Távora-Varosa, Vinho Verde. Romania: Dealu Mare, Moldovan Hills, Muntenia, Oltenia. South Africa: Franschoek, Hemel-en-Arde, Klein Karoo, Stellenbosch. Turkey: Marmara. | Grape also known as: Beaujolais, Beuna di Susa, Black Melon Grape, Biaune Gamaise, Blauer Gamet, Borgogna, Bourguignon noir, Burgandi Nagyszemu, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains, Carcairone, Chambonat, Complant de Lune, Erice noir, Ericey du Acher, Gamai, Gamai Chatillon, Gamay Beaujolais, Gamay Charmont, Gamay d’ Auvergne, Gamay d’Arcenant, Gamay de la Dole, Gamay de Liverdun, Gamay de Saint-Romain, Gamay de Sainte-Foix, Gamay de Toul, Gamay de Vaux, Gamay d’Orléans, Gamay du Gâtinais, Gamay Geoffray, Gamay Labronde, Gamay Magny, Gamay Mathieu, Gamay Nicolas, Gamay noir à Jus Blanc (Sicily), Gamay Ovoide, Gamay Picard, Gamay Piccolo Nero, Gamay Précoce, Gamay Rond, Gamay Sainte-foix, Gamay noir à Jus Blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Gambonnin, Gamé, Gammé, Gamet Blauer, Garcairone, Grosse Dôle, Grosse Game Crni, Kek Gamay, Liverdun Grand, Lyonnais, Lyonnaise, Marvandiot, Melon Gross Blau, Melon noir, Melonentraube Schwarz, Nagyburgundi Kek, Nicola, Olivette Beaujolaise, Petit Bourguignon, Petit Gamai, Petit Gamay, Petit Rondelet, Piccolo Gamay, Black Melon Grape, Plant Charmenton, Plant Chartaignet, Plant Chatillon, Plant d’ Evelles, Plant d’ Hery, Plant d’Argenant, Plant de Bevy, Plant de la Treille, Plant de LaBronde, Plant de Limagne, Plant de Magny, Plant de Malin, Plant de Montlambert, Plant des Carmes, Plant Montagny-sous-Beaune, Plant Monternier, Plant Nikolas, Plant Picard, Plant Robert, Plant Tondo, Plant Tondu, Pti Game, Saumorille, Schwarze Melonentraube, Sulzentaler blau, Verdunois. |
Image source: vintecclub.com
Gamay: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
