Gamay noir

Registration Information

In France, Aligoté is officially listed in the “Catalogue of Vine varieties” on the A list and is classified for wine grapes. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

Cultivation and Vine Characteristics

Gamay is a low vigor variety, weak but fertile. Its production must be managed because it tends to become depleted (particularly in highly fertile soils in warm climates). It is sometimes sensitive to millerandage under adverse weather conditions at flowering time. It is an early variety, and sensitive to heat. Gamay has a semi-erect to erect bearing and should be pruned short. Following a spring frost, the shoots from the secondary buds are relatively fruitful. The bunches are small and rather compact, with medium-sized berries.

Wine Characteristics

When whole clusters are macerated, this variety produces warm, fruity wines that are moderately colored but not very tannic. It also produces elegant and fruity rosés.

Susceptibility to Diseases and Pests

Gamay is sensitive to Botrytis, Phomopsis, wood diseases, grape moths and grapevine yellows.

Clonal selection in France

The are thirty-eight certified Gamay clones carry the numbers 102, 105, 106, 166, 167, 222, 282, 283, 284, 285, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 426, 427, 428, 488, 489, 490, 509, 510, 511, 512, 564, 565, 615, 616, 656, 657, 787, 1060, 1108, 1109, 1169, 1170 and 1227. A conservatory of 415 clones was planted in 2006 in the French department of Rhône. To this was added 510 supplementary clones in 2010.