
Gamay
Learn about Gamay — taste profile, popular regions and more …
Delightfully playful, yet at its best capable of impressive gravitas, Gamay is responsible for juicy, berry-packed wines from Beaujolais and parts of the Loire. The variety is also widely planted in Savoie, Valle d'Aosta and Switzerland. Gamay has recently found success on a small but growing scale in Oregon.
Tasting Notes for Gamay
Gamay makes a dry, red wine that is light in body. In its simplest form as Beaujolais Nouveau, a wine released just a couple of months after harvest, Gamay is fresh and full of cranberry and cherry candy flavors. The Villages and Crus Beaujolais wines, given more time on the vine and in the winery, are capable of improving with age and offer blackberry or ripe cherry flavors with enticing aromas of baking spice, violets and wet earth.
Perfect Food Pairings for Gamay
Gamay is delicious on its own; the simpler bottling can even benefit from a light chill before serving. It is the quintessential picnic red and goes well with simple charcuterie, Asian food, roasted duck or Thanksgiving turkey with cranberry sauce.
Sommelier Secrets for Gamay
Within Beaujolais, there are ten different Crus, or highly ranked grape-growing communes. Each one has its own distinct personality—Fleurie is delicate and floral, Côte de Brouilly is concentrated and elegant and Morgon is serious, structured, and age-worthy, capable of rivaling some red Burgundies.
- Pinot Noir180
- Bordeaux Red Blends64
- Cabernet Sauvignon46
- Syrah/Shiraz23
- Other Red Blends22
- Rhône Blends22
- Zinfandel22
- Gamay19
- Sangiovese15
- Malbec12
- Merlot11
- Grenache9
- Cabernet Franc6
- Barbera4
- Nebbiolo4
- Petite Sirah4
- Mourvedre2
- Tannat2
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Trousseau2
- Carmenere1
- Dolcetto1
- Nero d'Avola1
- Primitivo1
- Touriga Nacional1
- Tuscan Blends1
- Alicante Bouschet1
- Frappato1
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Jean Loron Chateau de Fleurie 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
- RP
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Albert Bichot Fleurie La Madone 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
- WS
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Bouchard Aine & Fils Beaujolais Villages 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Laurent Perrachon et Fils Moulin-a-Vent Terres Roses 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Albert Bichot Chateau de Jarnioux Beaujolais 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Louis Jadot Beaujolais 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Te Mata Estate Vineyards Gamay Noir 2018Gamay from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
- WE
- RP
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Stolpman Vineyards GDG Gamay 2018Gamay from Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
- WE
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Chateau Thivin Brouilly Reverdon 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- JS
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Albert Bichot Chateau de Varennes Beaujolais-Villages 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Domaine de la Pirolette Saint Amour 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
- RP
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Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Cote du Py 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WE
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Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WE
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Duboeuf Morgon Domaine de Javerniere Cote du Py 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- WE
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Duboeuf Fleurie Domaine des Quatre Vents 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WE
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Duboeuf Julienas Chateau des Capitans 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WE
- D
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Duboeuf Cote de Brouilly Domaine du Riaz 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WE
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Domaine des Chers Julienas Vieilles Vignes 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WE
- D
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Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Grands Cras 2018Gamay from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WE