The Gamaret

Swiss wine lovers are proud of their native grape varieties

And therefore Swiss researchers are constantly looking for new crosses resulting from their work carried out at the Agroscope agronomic research stations in Changins and Pully in the canton of Vaud . Among the successes of these developments, we can without hesitation mention the Gamaret.

Made in 1970 by Mr. André Jaquinet, it is the result of a cross between Gamay noir with white juice from Beaujolais and Reichensteiner, a white grape variety created in Germany. The aim of this research was to create a grape variety providing structure and color to Gamay and Pinot Noir produced in Switzerland. Half a century later, we must agree that the goal has been achieved. Gamaret, with small, thick-skinned berries, is early and resistant to rot. It is a brother of Garanoir and Mara.

Gamaret is today mainly cultivated in French-speaking Switzerland, mainly in the canton of Geneva (199 ha), Vaud (150 ha) and Valais (108 ha). In total, it covers 434 ha, making it the 4th most planted grape variety in Switzerland, behind Pinot Noir, Gamay and Merlot . In the meantime, Gamaret has also been planted in Germany, in the Würtenberg region and in France.

famille au milieu d'une vigne de gamaret

Initially created to be an auxiliary grape variety, Gamaret is today frequently the heart of vintages blended with Pinot noir, Gamay and Garanoir. Thus, it not only contributes to giving character to the Dôle du Valais or to the Geneva vintages of “L'Esprit de Genève” by providing structure and color but it is also found in single varietals aged in barrels . These wines are an intense purple red and exude a southern wine character with aromas of candied berries. Powerful, carried by very present but elegant tannins, these wines evolve advantageously in bottle for several years.