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Gamay grape

Château de la Chaize in Brouilly, Beaujolais, the home of Gamay

Photo: Carnet de Voyage d'Alex on Unsplash

Red grape

Gamay is a red grape known for red cherry, strawberry, floral. Its best-known homes are Beaujolais.

StyleRed

Body●●○○○ (2/5)

FlavoursRed cherry, strawberry, floral

Key regionsBeaujolais

Origin and history

From Burgundy; DNA shows it is a cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. In 1395 Duke Philip the Bold banned it from the Côte d'Or as 'disloyal'.

Where it grows

Beaujolais (including its ten crus such as Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent), the Loire (Touraine), Savoie, Switzerland and Oregon.

Structure

Light to medium body, high acidity and low tannin; often fermented by carbonic maceration for juicy fruit.

Aromas, young and aged

Young: red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, violet, peony and banana or bubblegum (carbonic). With age (top crus): cherry, earth, mushroom and spice, sometimes Pinot-like.

Ageing

Beaujolais Nouveau is for drinking within months; most Beaujolais 1–4 years; Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent can age 10–15.

Also known as

Gamay Noir, Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc.

Good to know

Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after harvest; in Switzerland it is blended with Pinot Noir to make Dôle.