Heads up: this guide contains an affiliate link. If you buy through it we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Gamay was banned by a duke. In 1395 Philip the Bold of Burgundy called it “a very bad and disloyal plant” and ordered every vine ripped out, because it was outcropping his precious Pinot Noir. Gamay shrugged, moved a few kilometres south to Beaujolais, and has been making the happiest red wine in France ever since.
If you have only met Gamay as Beaujolais Nouveau, the banana-scented party wine released every November, you have met it at its silliest. The serious villages, Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent, make real wine: bright, perfumed, silky, and the original chillable red long before that was a thing.
Table of Contents
What Does Gamay Taste Like?
Red cherry, raspberry, cranberry and violet, with a peppery, earthy edge and sometimes a hint of bubblegum from the carbonic fermentation many producers use. It is light in body, low in tannin, bright in acid and moderate in alcohol. Cru Beaujolais adds depth, spice and a stony minerality, and can age surprisingly well.
| Aspect | Rating out of 5 | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | 🍷 | Dry, with fruit so bright it feels sweet |
| Body | 🍷🍷 | Light and lively, the picnic red |
| Tannins | 🍷🍷 | Soft and silky, barely a grip |
| Acidity | 🍷🍷🍷🍷 | Fresh and mouth-watering |
| Alcohol by Volume | 🍷🍷🍷 | Moderate, usually 12–13.5% |
Each wine glass icon is one point on a 5-point scale: one glass is low, five is high, based on the grape’s typical style.
Where It Grows
Beaujolais, just south of Burgundy, is home and grows almost all of the world’s Gamay. The ten “cru” villages on granite hills make the best of it. The Loire grows it too, for light reds and rosé, and Switzerland blends it with Pinot Noir. It is a specialist grape with a small map.
Australia’s Gamay is tiny but exciting. Sorrenberg in Beechworth made the cult one for decades, and now the Yarra Valley, Mornington, the Adelaide Hills and Orange have joined in, mostly from small, adventurous producers who love a chillable red. Bottles sell out fast, which tells you something.
How to Serve It
Temperature: 12–14°C. Properly cool. This is the red that goes in the fridge for twenty minutes.
Glass: a Pinot Noir bowl; our Winewings Pinot glass review covers one, or see the glasses roundup.
Decanting: no. Fresh is the point.
Ageing: most Gamay is best within three years. Cru Beaujolais from Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent can age for a decade and start to taste like Pinot Noir.
What to Eat With It
Charcuterie, salami, rotisserie chicken, salmon, mushroom dishes, and anything you would take on a picnic. It is one of the few reds that suits bacon at brunch. More in the pairing guides.
Celebrated Wine Labels
| Wine Label | Country | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Marcel Lapierre | France | Morgon, the natural-wine pioneer |
| Jean Foillard | France | Morgon, silky and serious |
| Château Thivin | France | Côte de Brouilly classic |
| Sorrenberg | Australia | Beechworth, the cult Australian Gamay |
| Domaine des Terres Dorées | France | Jean-Paul Brun, pure Beaujolais |
Drink One Tonight
See Saw Incubator Orange Organic Gamay 2024
Australian Gamay in the glass: light, perfumed and best twenty minutes out of the fridge. Charcuterie and a sunny afternoon are all it needs.
- Real Gamay, from cool-climate Orange in NSW
- Certified organic from a family estate
- Bright, juicy and made to chill
- Small-batch Australian Gamay is rare; this one you can actually buy
- Mid-twenties price for a light red
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gamay the same as Beaujolais?
Beaujolais is the place, Gamay is the grape. Nearly all red Beaujolais is 100 percent Gamay, so in practice the words are used interchangeably.
Is Gamay similar to Pinot Noir?
Very. They are neighbours, Gamay is a child of Pinot Noir, and both are light, red-fruited and high in acid. Gamay is fruitier and softer; Pinot is more complex and ages longer. Read our Pinot Noir guide for the comparison.
Should Gamay be served chilled?
Yes, lightly. Around 12 to 14 degrees brings out the fruit and freshness. Twenty minutes in the fridge is about right.
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
A Gamay released just weeks after harvest, on the third Thursday of November, as a celebration of the new vintage. It is simple, fruity and meant to be drunk within months. Cru Beaujolais is the serious stuff.
Does Australia make Gamay?
In small amounts, from Beechworth, the Yarra Valley, Mornington, the Adelaide Hills and Orange. Most is made by small producers and sells out quickly.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps the wine flowing and the reviews honest.
User Review
( votes)
Sip smarter, subscribe now!
One short, useful email a week: pairings that actually work, honest reviews, and your free Food Pairing e-book the moment you join. No spam, no snobbery, and your inbox stays classy.
