Benchmark Gamay
Award-winnning & sustainably grown since 1998
Canada's Gamay producer from the Beamsville Bench, Niagara.
At Malivoire, Gamay isn't a trend we followed. It's a conviction we've held since 1998, long before Ontario Gamay became the conversation it is today.
Cool climate, cool grape
Gamay
From our estate on the Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, we grow Gamay across 23 acres of sustainably farmed vines. We produce seven distinct single-varietal bottlings, from approachable, fruit-forward expressions to age-worthy single-vineyard wines that hold their own against the world's finest. No winery in Canada makes more Gamay, or goes deeper into what this grape can do in Ontario.
unmistakably of this place
WHAT MAKES ONTARIO GAMAY DISTINCT
Gamay's spiritual home is Beaujolais, France and the Niagara region is embracing this grape like no other winegrowing region in the world
The Beamsville Bench gives our Gamays something unique that other regions cannot replicate. the mineral tension of Niagara's limestone-rich soils, the freshness of a true cool climate, and the singular character of vines that have been farmed sustainably for nearly three decades. The result is Gamay that is vibrant, structured, and unmistakably of this place.
tasting notes
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Ontario Gamay from the Beamsville Bench is defined by:
- Bright red fruit: cherry, raspberry, cranberry, strawberry
- Floral lift: violet, rose petal
- Fresh acidity and light, silky tannins
- A mineral, earthy finish that speaks to the limestone soils
- Genuine ageing potential in our single-vineyard expressions
It is a wine of freshness and precision, elegant rather than heavy, food-friendly by nature, and endlessly versatile at the table.
GAMAY VS. PINOT NOIR VS. BEAUJOLAIS
How does Ontario Gamay compare to Beaujolais?
Ontario Gamay from the Beamsville Bench sits comfortably alongside the finest Cru Beaujolais in terms of quality, complexity, and cellaring potential. Both share the same grape's signature freshness, bright red fruit, and food-friendly character. Where they differ is in terroir: Niagara's cooler climate and limestone-rich soils give Malivoire's Gamay a slightly firmer structure and a more pronounced mineral depth than its French counterpart. Same noble grape, same commitment to quality — a distinctly different and equally compelling expression of place.
How does Gamay compare to Pinot Noir?
Both are cool-climate red varieties that prize elegance over power. Gamay tends to be lighter in colour and body, with brighter acidity and more overt red fruit character. Pinot Noir typically offers greater depth and tannic structure. Many Gamay lovers find it the more food-friendly of the two, and at Malivoire, the more expressive of our specific terroir.
Gamay All Day!
Shop Our Gamay CollectionAccolades & Nice Stuff
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
- 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada: Winery of the Year
- 2021 Nationals: Three Platinum medals, including Gamay "Le Coeur" 2020. A historic first; no winery had previously won three Platinums at a single competition
- 2022 National Wine Awards: Four gold medals for Gamay
- Multiple consecutive gold medals for Gamay across the National Wine Awards of Canada
"King of Gamay" ;)
Shiraz Mottiar, our Director of Winegrowing, is known among Ontario wine industry insiders as the "King of Gamay", a title earned over two decades of pushing the boundaries of what this grape can achieve on the Beamsville Bench...and we think that's something to be proud of.
We'll Take It!
"Others have surely helped, but Malivoire has championed and transformed Gamay's status to prince among kings and queens." — Michael Vaughan, National Post
Explore our current Gamay releases, from our Estate Gamay expression to our celebrated single-vineyard bottlings
Gamay
Tastes great with food, and without
FOOD PAIRING
Gamay's natural acidity and light tannins make it one of the most versatile wines at the table.
Perfect pairings:
- Roasted chicken, duck confit, pork tenderloin
- Mushroom risotto, charcuterie, aged cheeses
- Salmon and other fatty fish, particularly lightly chilled
- Pizza, pasta with tomato, casual entertaining
Serve it slightly chilled, around 14 to 16 degrees Celsius, to bring out the freshness and floral lift.
taste our gamay with us
Book a TastingVisit us
Visit us on the Beamsville Bench and taste our Gamay flights at the winery, open daily. Our team can walk you through the full range, from approachable everyday bottles to our most expressive single-vineyard wines.
While you're here, have you heard about the benefits of joining our Insiders Wine Club?
Taste Trust Guarantee
We want you to be 100% happy with our wine. We offer a money-back guarantee!
Sustainable Winemaking
We are proud to be Certified under Ontario’s Sustainable Winemaking Program
Visit Malivoire
We are located on the Niagara Bench in Beamsville, ON and are open 7 days a week