Wine region: Beaujolais, France

The exiled grape

In 1395, Philip the Bold, the duke of Burgundy, ordered the destruction of all Gamay plants in the Burgundy region and that all attention was to be focused instead on Pinot Noir. He didn’t know that by forcing the grape out and southward – to Beaujolais – the plant would find its optimal expression of terroir. Today, Gamay remains the only authorized red grape in Beaujolais and represents almost its entire production. Chardonnay, sometimes blended with Aligoté, makes up only about 1 percent.

Carbo loading

Semi-carbonic maceration is an integral part of the Gamay vinification process in Beaujolais. Entire clusters of grapes are placed directly into vasts, resulting in an intracellular fermentation (essentially, within the berry) that generates intense fruit and supple tannins.

10 winning crus

The south, or Bas-Beaujolais, region produces almost all the nouveau wines, while in the north, 38 villages benefit from the Beaujolais-Villages appellation. The crus occupy only 10 percent of the region’s total vineyards. And the 10 communes that produce them are entitled to have their names on the labels: Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Chiroubles, Régnié, Brouilly, Côte-de-Brouilly, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie and Morgon. The latter three are the best for aging.

With food

The granite soil in the north and schistose soil in the south generally produce vins de soif (thirst-quenching wines) with enchanting aromas that are marvellous cocktail hour. Beaujolais pairs particularly well with hams, terrines and charcuteries. Serve nouveau wines at 11°C or 12°C, and Beaujolais-Villages and cru wines at 13°C or 14°C.

Versatile gamay

Easy to pair, with their crisp notes of red fruits and spices, Gamays pair beautifully with charcuteries and poultry. What’s more, their pleasing acidity and supple tannins match just as well with dishes that would normally be served with white wines. In fact, the Gamay grape has become popular enough that even Burgundians now take it seriously. In 2011, a new appellation was created called Bourgogne-Gamay, designating wines produced with grapes grown exclusively in the Beaujolais crus. Closer to home, Ontario producers are also enthusiastic about this sought-after variety that spells great taste in the glass. Gamays from the 13th Street and Tawse wineries, available at the SAQ, are a case in point.