Whilst perhaps not as well known as many other red wines hailing from France (the legendary Burgundy being a good example), Gamay red wine nevertheless has a staunch following among those who really know their red wine. Also known as Beaujolais because it principally hails from the Beaujolais region of Burgundy in France, the Gamay grape typically produces light, fruity red wines that tend to be relatively low in alcohol. Red wine produced from the Gamay grape is not particularly renowned for its ageing potential and most Gamay wines are at their best when consumed within two years of production. Whilst some Gamay wines of Cru standard lend themselves a little better to cellaring, even the best of these will not benefit from being stored for much over 10 years.
Strong cherry notes are a dominating factor in many wines made from the Gamay grape and this is a favourite wine among those who like their red wine a little less intense and robust than other reds produced in the region. Less tannin-heavy than many reds, this is a light and easy-drinking wine that benefits from being slightly chilled before serving. Although the Gamay grape has not travelled as extensively as many other French grapes, it has been successfully cultivated in some warmer corners of the wine-growing world, such as Australia (and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand) and California. The Gamay grape needs granite soil, such as that found in the Beaujolais region, in order to thrive and it is this complicating factor that has made it difficult for Gamay grapes to be successfully cultivated in many other parts of wine-growing world.
The Gamay grape dominates the vineyards of the Beaujolais region, which is located at the southern tip of Burgundy in France’s south east. Almost all Beaujolais wines are ready for immediate drinking. The grape ripens early and Gamay/Beaujolais wines are typically the first French wines to be released in each wine-growing year. Tradition dictates that the new vintage of Beaujolais Noveaux is released on the third Thursday of each November. Alcohol levels of wines produced from the Gamay grape can be as low as nine per cent, making this a popular wine among the growing number of wine drinkers looking for wines that deliver on taste without head-spinningly strong alcohol content. A basic Beaujolais wine, the cheapest of the options available, must have an alcohol content of nine per cent or more, while a Beaujolais Superieur must be 10 per cent or above. Wines classed as Beaujolais Villages must meet the same minimum alcohol content, but will be produced from one of some 40 villages famed for their superior soil and climate. At the top end of the scale, Beaujolais Grand Cru wines are produced from the 10 most celebrated vineyards of the region and may withstand ageing for a few years.
The Gamay grape itself is an intensely dark, almost black colour, with a white juice and very sweet flesh. In fact, the grape’s full name – Gamay Noir รก Jus Blan – translates as ‘Gamay black grape with white juice’. A notoriously finicky grape, Gamay requires soil, temperature and rainfall to be just so in order to grow well, but when conditions are appropriate the Gamay vine produces grapes in abundance.
Although among the lesser known of the grapes from the Beaujolais region, the grape has a history stretching right back to the 1300s, when it was first discovered in Gamay, the Beaujolais village from which the grape takes its name.
Although this early-ripening grape was cultivated with ease thanks to the perfect growing conditions of the region, the Duke of Burgundy initially banned the growing of the Gamay grape, instructing viticulturists to instead concentrate on cultivating grapes that he believed created more sophisticated and elegant red wines.
Today, however, the wine enjoys a decent reputation among wine buffs and when chilled is a pleasant summer red wine that may be anything from dark purple to light pink in colour. The wine is generally affordable and goes very well with a variety of foods – red meat and fish being particularly suitable companions to Gamay wines. Although Gamay grapes alone create some very pleasant wines, it is also sometimes blended with other French red wine grapes, such as Merlot, to create a more complex wine that is richer in tannins.
So whilst it may not be one of the world’s most sophisticated red wines, this simple, easy-drinking red wine is refreshingly unpretentious and makes a great party wine. Happily, the affordable price tag means that even party hosts on a budget can afford to stock up.
