Wine Grape: Gamay
Gamay is a red wine grape also known as Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc (black Gamay with white juice), presumably to distinguish it from other types of Gamay, such as Gamay Tenturier varieties that have red flesh as well as the skin.
Gamay's history can be traced back to the 14th century and the village of Gamay, in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune, near the villages of Saint Aubin and Chassagne Montrachet. First cited in the 1360s, in 1395, the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi (Philip the Bold) signed an edict to govern wine production in Burgundy. The edict mandated certain vinification methods and, in order to encourage planting the more noble Pinot Noir, demanded that Gamay be ripped up as 'infâme et déloyal' or 'despicable and disloyal'. In 1459, Duke of Burgundy Philippe le Bon (Philippe the Good), grandson of Philippe le Hardi, restated the family's dislike for the grape, saying it could 'fool foreigners', referring to the Christian church who was a big customer of Burgundy wines. According to the Duke, Burgundy needed to live up to its reputation for producing 'the best wines of Christendom.' Fortunately, Gamay found good exile a little farther south in Beaujolais.
Today it's still best known in the Beaujolais, both for the celebrated Beaujolais Nouveau, released with a lot of fanfare every third Thursday of November, but also for more serious Beaujolais Villages, and the 10 Beaujolais Crus (Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Regnié and Saint-Amour). Carbonic maceration is often used to produce light refreshing reds to enjoy young, but some of the crus, most notably Chénas, Juliénas, Morgon, and Moulin-à-Vent can age well up to 10 years.
Related to Pinot Noir, Gamay buds, flowers, and ripens earlier than its parent, so it does well in cooler regions such as France's Loire Valley, although it risks spring frosts. In other parts of the world, Gamay was introduced to Italy in 1825 and is still produced there in small quantities. In California, there are a couple of 'Gamay' grapes, neither of which are from Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. What's grown as 'Gamay Beaujolais' is really a clone of Pinot Noir. 'Napa Gamay' is really Valdiguié, a French vine that's no longer grown there.
Synonyms
Also known as Bourguignon Noir, Gamai Noir, Gamay Noir, Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc, Gamay du Beaujolais, Gamay Piccolo, Gamay Piccolo Nero, Gamay Thomas, Gamé, Petit Bourgignon, Petit Gamai, Petite Lyonnaise
Where
France: Alsace, Burgundy-Beaujolais, Loire, Rhône, Savoy, Southwestern France
Italy: Valle d'Aosta, Tuscany, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Also: Canada, Croatia, Kosovo, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, USA
Principal Wines
France: Alsace: Côtes de Toul AOC; Burgundy: Bourgogne Passetoutgrain AOC, Crémant de Bourgogne AOC, Mâcon AOC; (Beaujolais): Beaujolais AOC, Beaujolais-Villages AOC, Brouilly AOC, Côtes-de-Brouilly AOC, Chénas AOC, Chiroubles AOC, Coteaux-du-Lyonnais AOC, Côte-Roannaise AOC, Fleurie AOC, Juliénas AOC, Morgon AOC, Moulin-à-Vent AOC, Régnié AOC, Saint-Amour AOC; Loire: Anjou-Gamay AOC, Châteaumeillant AOC, Cheverny AOC, Coteaux du Giennois, Coteaux du Loir, Coteaux Vendômois, Côte Roannaise, Côtes-d'Auvergne, Côtes du Forez AOC, Rosé d'Anjou AOC, Saint Pouçain AOC, Saumur AOC, Touraine AOC, Touraine Amboise AOC, Touraine Mesland AOC, Valançay AOC; Rhône: Châtillon en Diois AOC; Savoy: Vin de Savoie AOC; Southwestern France: Cotes du Marmandais AOC, Gaillac AOC
Italy: Valle d'Aosta: Valle d'Aosta DOC; Tuscany: Cortona DOC, Colli dell'Etruria Centrale DOC
Characteristics
Color: Red with purple hues. Some Rosés available locally
Nose: Fruity (banana, raspberry, cherry), Spicy (black pepper)
Palate: Low tannins, moderate alcohol, good fresh acidity
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