Gamay is a Burgundian grape variety that has existed since the 14th century. For fear of competition with the pinot noir of Burgundy, gamay was finally uprooted and planted in the Beaujolais region, from Mâcon to Lyon. These siliceous and granitic soils suit it perfectly, and it gives its best here. But it is also planted all over France, such as in Lorraine, in the Loire Valley, in Bugey, in Savoie and in Auvergne. Gamay is early and very productive and needs to be limited so that quality prevails over quantity. Short winter pruning of the shoots and high density of vines per hectare are the methods that allow it to produce very fruity, fresh and greedy red wines. Gamay is also very popular in red wine futures, and produces wines from the Beaujolais region with very interesting character and ageing potential. The AOCs Crémant-de-Bourgogne, Mâcon, Anjou, Touraine, Rosé de vallée de la Loire, Côtes-d'Auvergne, Saint-Pourçain, Bugey, Gaillac, Côtes du Luberon... and many vins de pays are proud of it. Today, about 36,000 hectares of Gamay are cultivated in France, including 22,000 hectares in Beaujolais.

Informations about the Winery Jean-Claude Lapalu

The winery offers 16 different wines.

Its wines get an average rating of 3.8.

It is in the top 15 of the best estates in the region

It is located in Vin de Pays in the region of Pays d'Oc

The Winery Jean-Claude Lapalu is one of of the world's great estates. It offers 15 wines for sale in the of Vin de Pays to come and discover on site or to buy online.

In the top 200000 of of France wines

In the top 5500 of of Vin de Pays wines

In the top 35000 of pink wines

In the top 700000 wines of the world

The wine region of Vin de Pays

Vin de Pays (VDP), the French national equivalent of PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) at the European level, is a quality category of French wines, positioned between Vin de Table (VDT) and Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC). This layer of the French appellation system was initially introduced in September 1968 by the INAO, the official appellation authority. It underwent several early revisions in the 1970s, followed by substantial changes in September 2000 and again in 2009, when all existing VDT titles were automatically registered with the European Union as PGI. Producers retain the choice of using either the VDP or PGI titles on their labels, or both - in the form "IGP-Vin de Pays".

The wine region of Pays d'Oc

Pays d'Oc is the PGI for red, white and rosé wines that are produced over a wide area of the southern coast of France. The PGI catchment area corresponds roughly to the Languedoc-roussillon">Languedoc-Roussillon wine region, one of the largest wine regions in France. The area covers all wines that are not produced under the strict laws that govern AOC-level appellations in the regions: among them, Corbières, Minervois and the Languedoc appellation itself. The Pays d'Oc PGI is arguably the most important in France, producing the majority of the country's PGI wines.

The word of the wine: Bleeding

Old practice for red wines. As soon as the vat is filled with grapes, the tap is opened. A sweet but clear juice escapes from the vat (it can also be used to make rosé). The colour and density of the juice is enhanced, but it should not be overdone. Rarely more than 10% of the volume of a vat, otherwise you risk losing fruit and bringing in bitterness.