Our beautiful Gamay

What is Gamay?

Gamay is a grape variety from the hamlet of the Saint-Aubin area, to the south-east of Paris. In the Middle Ages, Gamay was planted en masse in the Burgundy region. This variety has invaded the lands of Burgundy due to the soils which allow a massive extension, in the absence of quality. Gamay begins to compete with Pinot Noir and impacts its reputation. This is why in 1395, the Gamay will be banished from the region. The soils of Burgundy are too prosperous for Gamay, this grape variety needs soils of granite, schists and volcanic rocks to limit its extent, and thus have a good grape quality. It was subsequently replanted in the Beaujolais region. Today, this grape variety covers 90% of the Beaujolais landscape and flourishes fully. It is not our co-founder, Clément Chevrier, who will say the opposite. A former professional cyclist, who has always been immersed in moments of sharing and especially around Beaujolais wines, he is a very big fan of Gamay. Don't ask him what the best grape variety in the world is, you already know the answer!

Gamay from Beaujolais

This vast and extensive territory offers a magnificent landscape populated by vineyards. There are 12 appellations in the Beaujolais region: Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Regnie, Morgon, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Moulin a Vent, Chenas, Saint-Amour and Julienas. There's one red, white-fleshed variety for hundreds of ways to do it. Gamays are light and fruity, there are few tannins, they can be tasted very young as with Beaujolais Nouveau for example, but can also keep well. Several winegrowers are masters of the conservation of natural wines such as those of the " Gang of four ". "Gang of 4" is a quartet, named by Kermit Lynch (the great American importer), which brings together four winegrower friends: Marcel Lapierre , Jean Foillard, Jean-Paul Thevenet and Guy Breton, themselves inspired by the immense Jules Chauvet. Jules Chauvet has brought natural wine and its methods of working the vine and vinification up to date. It has inspired many natural wine growers. To express all the fruit that Gamay can have, there is a famous event in France, which any epicurean of wine would not miss for anything in the world: Beaujolais Nouveau. Each year, on the third Thursday of November more precisely, Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated. Young wines that come to give a ray of sunshine in autumn. Beaujolais Nouveau is produced within the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages appellations. These are short with semi-carbonic macerations, the fruit aromas of Gamay are fully revealed in these primeurs, crisp, fresh and gourmet wines.

Gamay from Savoy

Gamay is known for its development in the Beaujolais region but also finds its place in Savoy. Gamay covers 18% of the Savoy vineyard. Axel Domont and Ça boit Libre by Damien Bastian, for example, offer 100% Gamay red wines. Axel Domont produces two Gamay bottle: Nuit blanche , which is therefore a 100% Gamay wine, refreshing and full of energy! Tandem 2020 is a Gamay of friends, on the fruit and encourages sharing. Ça boit libre, by Damien Bastian, presents a 2021 Ton Rouge d'elevage, a Gamay full of delicacies, juicy and spicy. A fresh and digestible juice, to be decanted to aerate it to better enjoy it! Gamay can also be blended with other grape varieties to bring fruit, freshness, roundness and indulgence. It pairs perfectly well with Pinot Noir and Mondeuse.

How to discover Gamay?

What could be better than a visit on site to discover the Gamay? The largest region of Gamay, Beaujolais, offers a colorful landscape. Aurélien Lapalus thought of everything while creating Semita Tours. Semita Tours allows you to discover the Beaujolais landscape on the handlebars of a bicycle (electric or not) to be closer to nature. Guided tours of winegrowers on the program and memorable tastings guaranteed. These wine enthusiasts will welcome you with pleasure in their domain to show you their working methods, their know-how which deliver sincere red wines. The hills of Beaujolais are to be discovered whatever the season, the colors of this panorama will make you travel. Epi-curieux now offers several bottles of Gamay red wines by working with around twenty different winegrowers. The estates are mainly from the Beaujolais region but also from Savoy and the Loire Valley.