Collection: Gamay

Gamay is a blue grape with roots in Beaujolais in France, and this is still where the grape shows itself at its most characteristic. Genetically, Gamay is considered an old, natural clone of Pinot Noir, and the kinship can be sensed in the pale, fragrant wines the grape produces. It is an early-ripening variety that typically yields light to medium-bodied red wines with low tannin and a fresh, fruit-driven style.

At Copenhagen Wine, our Gamay comes from France, more specifically from Bourgogne, where the grape goes into the region's light red wines. Bourgogne lies just north of Gamay's homeland, and here the grape keeps company with Pinot Noir in one of the world's most classic wine districts. It is a good starting point if you want to discover a more restrained and elegant side of Gamay.

Gamay is known for the vinification style carbonic maceration, a method that highlights the grape's juicy fruit and gives the wines their characteristic lightness and accessibility. That is why many Gamay wines come across as immediate and easy to approach, ideally with everyday meals and without much ceremony. The grape is also used as a blending grape, where it can add freshness and aroma.

Even though Gamay is often associated with youthful charm, the grape should not be underestimated. Versions from the better cru sites can develop over time and keep for 10 to 15 years, gaining in complexity. This reveals a breadth that reaches well beyond the purely easy-drinking.

You will come across Gamay under a number of synonyms, including Gamay Noir and Gamay Beaujolais, just as names like Blaufränkisch, Kékfrankos and Lemberger appear in various contexts. If you want to get acquainted with a grape that combines lightness, aroma and a surprising ability to age, our French Gamay from Bourgogne is a fine place to begin.