Gamay Beaujolais
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Gamay Beaujolais is a varietal designation for a Californian grape variety that is an early ripening clone of Pinot noir.
[edit] History
In the late 1930's an early pioneer of the American viticulture, Paul Masson, brought with him several Burgundian grapes for his winery in California. One of those grapes he believed to be the Gamay variety from the Beaujolais region in France, which in the 1940's University of California at Davis (UCD) researchers christened "Gamay Beaujolais".[1] In the late 1960's, UCD scientists decided that Gamay Beaujolais was a clonal selection of Pinot noir, and that California's version of the true Gamay was in fact the Napa Gamay. In fact the Napa Gamay isn't the true Gamay either, it was subsequently found to be the Valdiguié grape from Languedoc-Roussillon.[1]
[edit] Use on labels
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has been discouraging the use of the term 'Gamay Beaujolais'. They ruled that from 1997 it could only be used as a secondary designation on wines made from more than 75% Pinot Noir or Valdiguié, and from April 2007 the term 'Gamay Beaujolais' has been banned from labels.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) (1997) ATF-388, Gamay Beaujolais Wine Designation (92F–042P) as amended by ATF-388a.
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regionals: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries • Winemaking | |
