Weekly Wine Series - Gamay - Catheryn Grivna

I’m back with another Weekly Wine Series! This week, we are talking all about Gamay. This might not be a grape varietal you are super familiar with because it is typically grown in France in the Beaujolais region. If you’ve had a bottle of red wine that says “Beaujolais”, you’ve probably had Gamay.

Gamay is a lighter-bodied red wine and is often compared to Pinot Noir in terms of overall body and structure. While Gamay can be compared to Pinot Noir, the flavor profile can be quite different. Gamay tends to be more fruity and floral, and it is typically a wine that people drink young. You can age certain Gamays, but more often than not, you’ll want to consume these within a year or two.

Beyond Beaujolais, there is a small amount of Gamay planted in California and Oregon. You don’t see it too often, but if you look hard enough, you may find a domestic example.

In this post you’ll find more information about Gamay, food pairing recommendations and bottle recommendations at every price point. I’d highly recommend picking up one of these bottles to pair with a comforting fall recipe. Cheers!

Overview

Gamay Bottle Recommendations and Food Pairings

Facts

Gamay is a lighter-bodied red wine. It is often very fruity and floral.
Gamay is often compared to Pinot Noir due to the overall body and structure of the wine.
The most important region for Gamay is Beaujolais (France), and this is where most of the Gamay is grown.
You will also find Gamay grown in the Loire Valley (France), California and Oregon.
The village of Gamay in Beaune, France is most likely where the grape originated.
Gamay is naturally light-bodied, but a process called carbonic maceration softens the tannins and brings out lighter, tropical flavors, such as banana. You’ll also get other fruit flavors like pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry and watermelon.
It is common to drink Gamay with a light chill on it.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a type of Gamay that is released shortly after harvest. These are light and fruity wines that are designed to be consumed shortly after bottling. Beaujolais Nouveau Day marks the wine’s release and takes place annually on the third Thursday of November.

Food Pairings

Gamay pairs well with a wide variety of dishes because this varietal tends to have higher acidity. This wine is typically a favorite for the Thanksgiving dinner table, so think turkey, pork, chicken, etc. Gamay also pairs nicely with several different cheeses. Here are some other options for food pairings: