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The gamay grape played an important role in helping the people of the Beaune region of France recover from the Black Death. It has been grown in this region since medieval times, but in spite of its health benefits, it was outlawed in the area in the late 14th century.

The wines it produced were strong and fruity and as such were seen as competition for the more popular and elegant wines, such as Pinot Noir. The cultivation of the vines was relegated to one area only, that of Beaujolais, where many acres are still devoted to its cultivation. There are also areas of the Loire Valley, the Rhone, Savoie and Jura where you will find these grapes on the vines of the vineyards.

The official name of the Gamay grape is Gamay Noir á Jus Blanc. This aptly describes the grape but not the wine – a black grape that produces white juice. The juice may be white but the wine that results is red, rather than white.

The grape does not enjoy a good reputation with winemakers because it will only thrive in areas where the soil is mainly composed of limestone and granite. The climate also plays a part because the grapes grown in cooler climates will not have the complexity and full body of those grown in warmer climates.

Gamay wines are fruity and those designed for early consumption have fruit aromas that you would usually find in tropical regions. When the wines have been aged for a short period of time, they take on the flavor and aroma of black currants and cherries.

In the winemaking process, many wineries use carbonic maceration techniques to enhance the fruity taste of the wine by using carbon dioxide in fermenting the grapes.

This process helps to add many different flavors and aromas to the wine that results, which can include that of bananas, coconut, vanilla, toast and even candy flavors, such as bubblegum and cotton candy.

The production process of Gamay wine involves crushing the grapes immediately after they are harvested. Then they are allowed to soak cold for 24 hours before RA 17 is added, which is essential for Gamay and Pinotage. The wine is then fermented at a temperature of about 54° for a two week period.

Once this has been completed, the wine is aged in barrels of both French and American oak, depending on the taste of the winemaker, for about six months to help round out the taste.

One of the unique varieties of Gamay that you will only find in Canada is called Gamay Droit.  The grapes are Gamay grapes but they grow on upright vines and ripen ten days earlier than the standard grapes of this variety.

This gives the grape and the wine a higher level of sugar and deeper pigmentation. The wine is very aromatic with scents of red currants, cherries and raspberries, much like those scents found in a Grenache. There are also hints of licorice, pepper and oak in the aroma.

Other varieties of Gamay include the Gamay Rouge, which is a great choice for warm summer evenings with its flavor of ripe strawberries. Gamay Noir has the aroma if black pepper and black cherries.

This wine makes a great choice when you are having a barbeque or serving pizza, chicken or even pasta. It also pairs well with salads and sandwiches, cheeses and fruits.

Tags: pinot noir | pinot noir | pinotage | pinotage | grenache | grenache | gamay

Absorbent coasters are the perfect choice when you want long-lasting service from these small decorative pieces you use for laying drinks on instead of laying them directly on your furniture.

Those made of stone will last for many generations and will absorb the liquid that condenses on the outside of drink glasses very quickly.

You will not have to worry about the water collecting on the surface of the coaster and then pooling over onto the table top, causing an unsightly stain. The natural absorbent quality of stone will soak up the liquid, which will then naturally evaporate into the air.

Indian sandstone helps create absorbent coasters in a wide variety of intense colors. You will see a swirl of colors in each coaster and due to the nature of the stone, each of the coasters in a set will be different in the range of colors and patterns that each one contains.

Rubber bottoms on such coasters will protect your furniture from being scratched by the stone and will help keep the coaster in place when there is a glass laid on top of it.

There are a variety of patterns you can choose from in this material such as earth tones or patterns of light and dark colors running in smooth lines.

Coasters made from Indian slate will not only absorb the liquids but will evoke images of exotic destinations when you use them.  This slate, mined from the foothills of the Himalayas, is very gentle and porous, which makes it an excellent choice for absorbent coasters. 

Each of these coasters will be unique because of the factors that affect the natural production of the stone, such as the minerals in the soil. The gentle colors and patterns will match the décor of any room in your home.

Chinese slate offers an exotic material for beverage  coasters in the interesting and unique patterns it forms. There is a wide variety of colors on one coaster and in some of them the patterns look like a map of the world. There are other patterns that you can choose that resemble cloud formations.

The differences in color provide a dramatic effect on each coaster. You do have to be careful in choosing just the right colors to match your décor. Although it is good to have contrasting colors these coasters can be overpowering and become the focal point of a room.

Enjoy the soothing effects of the color choices in absorbent coasters made from African slate. The wild colors will give you a glimpse of the wild nature of this country and export you in your mind to the desert or to the nature reserves. Each of these coasters is a work of art that you will be proud to display in a coaster holder on your table.

You will think of the towering mountains when you use cocktail coasters made from Brazilian slate. These coasters are very dark in color and really enhance the décor of any room.

When ordering your set of coasters in whatever kind of absorbent stone and color pattern you choose, you can order sets of 4, 6 or 8 coasters. These are gift wrapped and ready for you to give to anyone on your list.

Online retailers will ship the coasters directly to your address. You don’t have to worry that they will be damaged when they arrive because great care is taken in packaging them to prevent any breakage.

Tags: absorbent coasters | beverage coasters | beverage coasters | cocktail coasters | cocktail coasters