Gamay N
Name of the variety in France
Gamay
Origin
This variety is originally from Bourgogne (Burgundy). Based on published genetic analyses, it would be the result of a crossbreeding between Pinot noir and Gouais blanc.
Synonyms
There is no officially recognized synonym in France nor in the other countries of the European Union, for this variety.
Legal information
In France, Aligoté is officially listed in the "Catalogue of Vine varieties" on the A list and classified. 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.
Use
Wine grape variety.
Evolution of cultivated areas in France
1958 1968 1979 1988 1998 2008 2018
ha 37806 36257 33869 33620 36653 35084 23650
Descriptive elements
The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shootwith a low to medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the yellow young leaves with bronze spots,
- the shoots with red internodes,
- the circular adult leaves, entire or with five lobes, with an open V-shaped petiole sinus, short teeth compared to their width at the base with straight sides, an involute leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, a very low density of erect and prostrate hairs,
- the short ellipsoid berries.
Genetic profile
Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32
Allel 1 131 232 239 178 194 244 238 216 239
Allel 2 135 236 249 186 204 246 238 245 271
Phenology
Bud burst: same as Chasselas.
Grape maturity: early-season, 1 week and a half after Chasselas.
Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production
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, sensitive to heat. Gamay has a semi-erect to erect bearing and sould be pruned short. Following a spring frost, the shoots from the secondary buds are relatively fruitful. It tends to produce a high number of grappillons.
Susceptibility to diseases and pests
Gamay is sensitive to grey rot, phomopsis, wood diseases, grape moths and grapewine yellows.
Technological potentiality
The bunches are small, rather compact and the berries are medium in size. This variety produces, with the maceration of whole clusters, warm, fruity, moderately colored but not very tannic wines. This variety also produces elegant and fruity rosés.
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.
Bibliographic references
- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.
Description of clones certified in France
Identity and availability Agronomic data Technological data Autres informations
Clone no. Marque Origin Selection Year of
certification
 Agronomic
references
 Surface area used
for propagation (year)
 Fertility Production
level
 Bunch
weight
 Vigor Berry
size
 Susceptibility
to grey rot
 Sugar
level
 Color
potential
 Titrable
acidity
 Tannic
structure
 Aromatic
intensity
 Oenological
suitability
 New General
note
 Agro-tecnic
note 		Note
agronomique
 Agronomic
note
 Links
102 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1971 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		medium to high high high medium low to medium medium low low high low to medium wines often irregular in quality productive clone
105 Cher INRA 1972 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		medium to high medium to high high medium to high medium medium to high low high balanced but not very fruity wines productive clone
106 Nièvre INRA 1972 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		high high high medium to high high high low high balanced wines if yields are managed productive clone
166 Nièvre INRA 1972 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		medium medium to high high medium medium to high medium to high low to medium medium tannic wines that lack finesse slightly drooping bearing, rather late maturity and productive clone
167 Non précisée ENTAV 1972 Beaujolais low to medium medium high medium high medium low high representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
222 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1973 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		5.25 ha medium to high medium to high medium to high medium medium medium medium low to medium medium to high medium balanced and fruity wines, representative of the variety clone often used as a base for fruity wines by limiting its production. Suitable for the production of primeur wines.
282 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1973 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		2.53 ha medium to high medium to high medium to high medium to high medium medium medium low to medium medium medium balanced and fruity wines, representative of the variety yield must be managed in order to obtain good quality products. Clone adapted to the production of primeur wines
283 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1973 Beaujolais medium to high high high medium medium to high medium to high low high representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
284 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1973 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		2.43 ha high high high medium to high medium medium to high low to medium low to medium medium to high low balanced and lower standard of the variety yield must be managed, rather late clone destined for very early and not very fertile areas
285 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1973 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		medium to high medium to high medium to high medium to high medium to high medium to high low to medium low low to medium low very low-structured wines qualitative potential too limited
355 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1975 Beaujolais high high medium to high medium to high high high low high representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
356 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1975 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		0.71 ha high high high high medium to high medium to high low low high low acid wines of low constitution yield must be managed, rather late clone destined for very early and not very fertile areas
357 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1975 Beaujolais medium to high medium to high medium to high medium to high high medium to high low to medium low to medium medium to high low to medium fruity and not very structured wines clone of little interest compared to the clones already multiplied
358 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1975 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		4.04 ha low to medium low to medium medium medium medium medium to high medium to high medium medium medium balanced, aromatic and fairly full-bodied wines good potential, intermediate between fruity and structured wines
359 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1975 Beaujolais medium medium medium to high medium to high high medium to high medium medium representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
426 Non précisée ENTAV 1976 representative wines of the variety
427 Non précisée ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais low to medium medium high medium medium to high medium to high medium medium representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
428 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais low to medium medium medium to high high medium to high medium to high low to medium low low to medium low wines with very light structure productive clone with a low quality potential
488 Nièvre INRA 1976 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		high high high high medium medium to high low high light wines very productive clone
489 Nièvre INRA 1976 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		high high medium to high medium high medium to high low to medium medium balanced wines productive clone with limited quality potential
490 Nièvre INRA 1976 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		high medium to high medium medium medium medium to high low to medium medium light wines productive clone with limited quality potential
509 Allier ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		6.80 ha low low medium low medium medium to high high medium low medium to high balanced, aromatic and full-bodied wines earlier clone, not very productive, with low acidity and appreciated in Beaujolais. Well suited to the production of wines suitable for ageing. Avoid sectors and blends with rootstocks favouring earliness.
510 Rhône ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais medium medium medium high medium to high medium to high low to medium high representative wines of the variety productive and low quality clone
511 Côte-d'Or ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais high high high high high high low high representative wines of the variety late productive clone
512 Côte-d'Or ENTAV 1976 Beaujolais high high high high medium to high high low medium representative wines of the variety late productive clone
564 Loir-et-Cher ENTAV 1978 Beaujolais low to medium medium medium to high medium medium medium medium medium to high representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
565 Allier ENTAV 1978 Beaujolais
Burgundy
Loire-Valley 		2.18 ha medium low low high medium low to medium high high medium high colored, aromatic and full-bodied wines earlier maturity clone with divided leaves. It is appreciated for its low yield and its ability to produce wines suitable for ageing.
615 Non précisée ENTAV 1979 Beaujolais medium high high medium to high high medium to high low high representative wines of the variety productive clone with a low quality potential
616 Non précisée INRA 1979 Beaujolais low to medium medium medium high medium to high low to medium medium low to medium medium to high medium acidic and medium-structured wines rather late clone destined for very early and not very fertile areas
656 Rhône ENTAV 1980 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		2.48 ha medium medium to high high medium medium to high low to medium medium to high medium to high medium high colored, fine, aromatic and complex wines drooping bearing, production needs to be managed in order to obtain good qualitative expression. Clone adapted to the production of primeur wines and wines suitable for ageing.
657 Rhône ENTAV 1980 Beaujolais medium medium to high medium low to medium medium to high medium low to medium low medium to high low acidic wines of low constitution late and low quality clone
787 Rhône ENTAV 1984 Beaujolais
Loire-Valley 		5.10 ha high medium medium medium medium medium high medium medium high balanced, fine and aromatic wines compact bunches with a little of millerandage. Wines appreciated in tasting. Clone adapted to the production of wines suitable for ageing.
1060 Loir-et-Cher Sicarex Beaujolais - ENTAV 2001 Beaujolais 1.06 ha medium to high medium medium low medium medium medium medium medium to high high colored, fruity, fat and tannic wines intermediate yield. Wines appreciated in tasting. Clone adapted to the production of wines for ageing
1108 Loire Sicarex Beaujolais - ENTAV 2006 Beaujolais low low low to medium medium medium medium medium to high medium to high medium medium to high balanced, structured and aromatic wines erect bearing, wines appreciated in tastings
1109 Loire Sicarex Beaujolais - ENTAV 2006 Beaujolais 0.01 ha low low low to medium medium medium medium high high medium to high high colored and aromatic wines with good tannic structure erect bearing, clone not very productive and very appreciated wines in tasting. Clone adapted to the production of wines for laying down.
1169 Beaujolais Sicarex Beaujolais - IFV 2011 Beaujolais low low medium low low to medium low high high medium high well-balanced, colored and structured wines clone not very productive, small loose bunches with very ovoid berries, good tolerance to rot, rather early. Wines of superior gustative quality with a good balance between aromas and structure.
1170 Auvergne Sicarex Beaujolais - IFV 2011 Beaujolais very low low high low medium medium to high medium medium medium to high medium to high balanced and structured wines Gamay d’Auvergne type clone, not very fertile but with large bunches, rather late. Wines of phenolic composition superior or equal to the Gamay clone 509, as well as its gustative quality.
1227 Beaujolais Sicarex Beaujolais - IFV 2015 Beaujolais medium to high low low medium low to medium low medium to high high medium to high medium to high high colored wines with good tannins that last in the mouth New A late, not very productive clone. Less susceptibility to grey rot due to small, loose bunches with millerandage. Wines appreciated in tasting.
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