Gamay

Identity and pedigree

VIVC lists Gamay Noir under number 4377, with black berries, France as the country of origin and 220 synonyms, among them Beaujolais, Black Gamet, Blauer Gamet and Bourguignon Noir.¹ Its pedigree, confirmed by markers, is Heunisch Weiss × Pinot (parent 2 given as Pinot Noir).¹

Bowers et al. (1999) named Gamay among the north-eastern French grapes consistent with descent from Pinot × Gouais Blanc.⁴ It therefore shares both parents with Chardonnay and Aligoté.^5,6

Use in sparkling wine

Gamay is a listed black variety of Crémant de Bourgogne, limited in the cuvée: the draft amendment proposes to raise the cap from 20% to 30%.³ The June 2026 draft for Crémant du Jura lists it as a red variety of interest for adaptation.⁷

Both Crémant rules are quoted from INAO draft amendments published for national opposition.