Which vintage will be elected the world’s best Gamay in 2022?

Coming on the heels of a 2021 edition in which only a small number of people were able to participate because of health restrictions, the 12th edition of the Concours International du Gamay is sure to be an effervescent event. It will be held on Saturday, 15 January 2022 at the Cité Internationale in Lyon.
In 2021, 879 samples from France and Switzerland were tasted by sixty professional tasters and knowledgeable amateurs (already a 10% increase in the number of samples in comparison with the previous year). A ‘grand jury’ then re-tasted all the gold-medal wines and elected from amongst them the World’s Best Gamay 2021: Beaujolais Villages 2020 from the Béroujon Domain.

The Competition
Since 2010, Inter Beaujolais and Armonia have organised the Concours International du Gamay to promote the Gamay grape variety, for which the region is famous.
Approved by the DGCCRF (part of the French ministry of the economy and finance) and ISO 9001-certified through Armonia since 2014, the competition is open to producers from across the world who make wine from the Gamay grape. Its purpose is to:
- strengthen the renown of the Gamay grape and consumers’ image of a full-bodied, joyous and fruity wine.
- make the diversity of Gamay wines across the world better known to decision-makers and simple wine-lovers. Proof of this diversity can be found in the increasing number of samples submitted each year (879 samples in 2021, i.e. +10%).
After tasting by a jury composed of experts and professionals in the wine sector, the Concours International du Gamay awards the wines that best express the qualities of this grape variety.
David Béroujon, whose Beaujolais-Villages 2020 was awarded the trophy for World’s Best Gamay in 2021, talks about the success of the competition: “The impact has been fabulous. One only need look at the exceptional numbers of people coming to the domain, development of a new client base and the new export markets we have won.”

Registration of wines in the competition
Producers can register wines until 24 December 2021 but samples must be received by 31 December 2021 at latest. The registration form may be completed directly on the competition’s website: https://www.concoursgamay.com/pro/login
Tasting will take place on 15 January 2022 at the Cité Internationale in Lyon and results will be announced on 19 January 2022. Award certificates will be delivered on 31 January 2022.
To be part of a jury, go to the tasters’ space on the website: https://www.concoursgamay.com/taster/login