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+--- Thread: varietals... (/thread-18194.html)
- Doug Holdsworth - 09-12-1999
I do realize that a varietal wine must be composed of at least 75% of the said grape in order to be a true varietal wine. One thing I am confused on, however, is why this isn't the case for all grape varieties. What I mean is, for instance, Moullin A'Vent by Jadot is made entirely of gamay. Why isn't there such thing as a "gamay" varietal? If there is I've never heard of it. Any thoughts?
- Jerry D Mead - 09-13-1999
Gamay is a grape variety, though not a great deal of it is grown in America.
The 75% rule applies to American wines.
In France (and most of Europe) wines are much more often named for places or vineyards than for the grapes from which the wines are made (there are exceptions, especially in Alsace and Germany). Also, when the French adopt the American fashion of varietal labeling, their laws require that the wine be 100% varietal.
Re the regional thing, for example...Burgundy is the place...for red the variety is Pinot Noir...for white it is Chardonnay...then it gets more confusing...because within the greater area of Burgundy, some wines get named for smaller subdivisions such as Communes (sort of like counties) down to specific vineyard names...but the same rules for the Burgundian varieties holds...so names like Beaune, Montrachet, Chablis, Pouilly Fuisse, and Meursault are all places inside Burgundy and are primarily made from either Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.
There is much too much involved in this understanding how wines are labeled internationally to explain here...you really need to pick up couple of basic books to refer to.
- Thomas - 09-13-1999
Couldn't have said it better. You might, however, find California wines with a Gamay moniker.
- Jerry D Mead - 09-14-1999
Foodie is right about finding the Gamay name on some California wines...but most of them that say Gamay...aren't.
Those labeled Gamay Beaujolais are really from an inferior clone of Pinot Noir.
Those labeled just Gamay, or Napa Gamay, are usually actually Valdiguie. (Both J. Lohr and Gallo Sonoma have switched to the Valdiguie name.)
UC DAvis screwed up on identifcation about 40 years ago and ATF is just forcing the switchover to accurate labelling...meanwhile there is almost no real "Gamay noir au jus blanc" (the true Gamay of Beaujolais) anywhere in California...I didn't say none...almost none.
JDM
- Don Muraca - 09-14-1999
Hah!..JDM you beat me to my question....I walked in to the tasting room..err, barn..at Hop Kiln in the Russian River Valley and got a taste of Valdiguie...never heard of it before, and I was wondering from whence it came...I guess one description could be Gamay-like. The tasting barn manager said only three wineries produce Valdiguie wines, J. Lohr, Gallo of Sonoma and themselves...On a related note, I walked in to Rochioli hoping to find an open bottle of Pinot Noir on their tasting bar, but was subjected to what they called "Gamay"....very lite and kinda dull....then again, maybe I was just in bad mood because I was denied...
Don
- Bucko - 09-14-1999
Valdiguie is a very prolific vine that is resistant to many diseases. At one time it was widely planted in S. France. It was known as Gamay 15 in CA. The wines are usually very mediocre. It does not stand up to true Gamay Beaujolais.
Bucko
- Randy Caparoso - 09-14-1999
I presume you meant to say Gamay Noir au Jus Blanc, Bucko?
- Bucko - 09-14-1999
Yep - Gamay Beaujolais has a synonym of Pinot Noir. I meant the true Gamay, its formal name being Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc. Now go to your corner....... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]
Bucko