WineAlign - Awards - 2021 NWAC Gamay

Results of the 2021 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)

Gamay

Category Overview by Judge Janet Dorozynski, DipWSET

#GoGamayGo

It is a short and simple hashtag, and a rallying cry of sorts, that I came up with ten years ago. It was during a time when some wineries were saying that gamay was difficult to sell and were replanting to other varieties. I am not sure if it is easier to sell these days but there does seems to be growing interest among trade and consumers for gamay.

(Jump straight to the medal winners.)

Gamay is the variety of Beaujolais and we see all styles of gamay made in Canada. From the lighter, fresh, juicy, and infinitely drinkable to medium bodied, more serious and complex styles, from single vineyard sites with varying degrees of oak treatment. While the latter are slightly more expensive, they are still less costly to make and buy than pinot noir and a great alternative and value for those looking for lighter reds.

The history of gamay in Ontario dates back to the beginnings of the modern wine industry and is part of early vinifera planting trials. It is also a historically significant variety. Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, the co-founders and co-owners of Inniskillin Wines, received the first winery license since Prohibition in 1974, to make wine for an LCBO submission for 500 gallons of wine from gamay.

Plantings in Ontario number over 400 acres while in British Columbia there are less than 200 acres. There are also small amounts of gamay grown in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The variety is prolific and benefits from crop thinning in the vineyard to temper its vigorous growth and ensure uniform ripeness and concentration. Gamay is also one of the most winter hardy vinifera, even more so than chardonnay or cabernet franc, and ideally suited to many parts of Canada.

The top scoring gamay from NWAC 2021 come as no surprise since both Deep Roots from the Naramata Bench in British Columbia and Malivoire from Ontario’s Beamsville Bench have been winners in the past. Malivoire was an early adopter and gamay specialist and thought to have the largest vineyard plantings and production of gamay outside of Beaujolais.

There are also a few new comers to the category from various parts of the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys in British Columbia, along with wonderful examples from both Escarpment and Niagara-on-the-Lake sub-appellations along with Prince Edward County in Ontario. Check out the winners below and if you haven’t tried any Canadian gamay yet, all I can say is what are you waiting for?

And the winners are…

Malivoire 2020 Le Coeur Gamay, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Deep Roots 2020 Reserve Gamay Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

13th Street 2019 Gamay Sandstone, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
13th Street 2020 Gamay, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Adamo 2017 Gamay Noir Oaked Huebel Grapes Estate Grower’s Series, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2020 Gamay, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Indigenous World 2019 Single Vineyard Gamay Noir, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Malivoire 2020 Wismer-Foxcroft Gamay, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Orofino 2020 Gamay, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Gamay Noir Cherry Avenue, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Three Sisters 2019 Gamay, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Volcanic Hills 2019 Gamay Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia