The red grape variety originates from France. The full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc due to its almost white flesh, to distinguish it from red-fleshed Gamay varieties. There are around 150 synonyms, testifying to its widespread distribution and presumably great age. Some of them are Beaujolais, Bourguignon Noir, Caracairone, Gamai, Gamai Chatillon, Gamay Beaujolais, Gamay Charmont, Gamay d'Arcenant, Gamay d'Auvergne, Gamay de la Dôle, Gamay de Liverdun, Gamay de Saint-Romain, Gamay de Sainte-Foix, Gamay de Toul, Gamay de Vaux, Gamay d'Orléans, Gamay du Gâtinais, Gamay Labronde, Gamay Noir, Gamay Ovoïde, Gamay Précoce, Gamé, Gammé, Grosse Dôle, Liverdun Grand, Lyonnais, Melon Noir, Petit Bourguignon, Petit Gamay, Plant Robert (independent clone), Black Melon Grape. It should not be confused with the Abouriou, Avanà, Blaufränkisch, Gascon, Gouget Noir, Grolleau Noir, Pinot Noir, Troyen or Valdiguié varieties, despite the synonyms or morphological similarities that seem to indicate it.
According to one hypothesis, it is said to have come to France from Dalmatia under the Roman Emperor Probus (232-282). However, it probably originates from Burgundy and is possibly named after the commune of Gamay near Saint-Aubin in the Côte d'Or. The very old variety was first mentioned in 1395 in an excommunication by Duke Philip II the Bold (1342-1404). It speaks of a very bad variety Gaamez, from which abundant quantities of wine spring, which is terribly bitter and the people are afflicted by serious diseases. Therefore, it was ordered that...
