Gamay is a thin, delicate purple-black skinned grape which is cylindrical and compact, surrounded by flat, fairly even-edged leaves.

Although granite soils seem to be its soil of choice, the variety is good at adapting. Half of the 30,000 hectares of Gamay planted worldwide are in the Beaujolais region of France, where it covers 98% of the areas that produce Beaujolais wine.

The hilly Beaujolais vineyards stretch out from north to south over 55km, bordered to the west by the Massif Central, and to the east by the Saone river.

Beaujolais vineyards are emblematic in the French national landscape, but are still teeming with secrets to be unearthed. The region has a constent sense of welcome and sharing. Sculpted over centuries it is personified by its 12 AOCs.

The fifth generation of the Descombe family now work their historic vineyards in Beaujolais. The vineyards are organic and the family have introduced agro-forestry principles, such as planting trees within the vineyard, to increase the biodiversity.

In 2024 Marine became the first winemaker to make the Forbes Top 40 Women list, a great recognition of the work being done by the family.