Gamay is thought to have originated in the Burgundy wine region of France where it was outcast in the 14th century due to producing inferior wines. Gamay subsequently established in the Beaujolais region and plantings can also be found in the Loire Valley.
Gamay wines are typical of the Beaujolais style being light purple in colour, high acid, low tannin, light-bodied, fragrant with freshly picked red berry, peach and banana characters.
| Budburst (E-L 4) | Full bloom (E-L 23) | Veraison (E-L 35) | Harvest (E-L 38) |
| Mid-September | Mid-December | Mid-February | Early April |
When planted in 2003, Gamay vines showed poor establishment at Manjimup. Rootlings were weak and many failed to establish and required replanting. The first year of fruit production for winemaking occurred in 2009.
Gamay vines produced numerous small bunches per shoot requiring fruit thinning in crowded areas. Bunches are highly compact containing very small berries and susceptible to botrytis. Fruit displays ripe berry and spicy characters, producing light-bodied savoury wines with firm acid and herbal, strawberry and briar flavours.
| Productivity | Medium-high | Berry weight | Medium |
| Bunch weight | High | Fruit yield/vine (kg) | 7.7 |
| Disease susceptibility | Medium | Equivalent yield/ha | 12.8 |
| Bunch compaction | High | Vigour | Medium |
| Juice TSS (°Brix) | 22.7 | Juice Baumé | 12.6 |
| Juice pH | 3.1 | Juice TA g/L | 8.9 |
Wine sensory assessment
Results from a consumer survey showed that 53 per cent of respondents liked the aroma, 47 per cent liked the flavour, 47 per cent liked the body, 35 per cent liked the style and 37 per cent believed the variety has commercial potential.
| 2009 Winemakers Panel | 2010 Timber Towns Wine Show | 2010 Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show | 2010 Qantas Wine Show |
| 14.5 | 15.1 | 13.7 | 14.6 |