Gamay Symposium yields surprise results

Australian and Swiss competitors were surprise winners at the inaugural Gamay Symposium held in Lyon last month, an event which saw Gamay growers from all over the world come together to raise awareness of the grape.

Producers from Germany, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Spain, the US, Italy, England, Slovenia, Switzerland and France entered their wines into a blind tasting judged by 130 winemakers, merchants and critics.

Though French, and in particular Beaujolais producers, took the lion’s share of the 167 medals, four Swiss wines were awarded “Grand Gold” medals, six more won golds, eight won silvers and an Australian producer, Scarpantoni Estate from McLaren Vale, won a silver.

Nicholas Schorderet of the Office des Vins Vaudois, commented on the encouraging results for Swiss Gamay: “This competition is a great tool to gain international recognition for our region.

"This grape can produce wines for all occasions. They can be juicy and fresh, but can also possess a great tannic structure for aging like many Crus Beaujolais. The true value of this grape is in its authenticity.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Collet, marketing and communications director of Inter-Beaujolais, praised the event’s aim: “This symposium has demonstrated the confidence now shown in Gamay. We have seen top examples sent in from all corners of the wine producing world that show the diversity of this grape variety.

“This is the perfect opportunity for us to show the world exactly what Gamay is capable of producing, and that is world class wines that not only can be fruit-led and refreshing, but have the capacity to age gracefully.”

Rupert Millar, 17.02.2011