In all my drinking years (nearly 30) I don’t think I’ve ever tried this grape. But with Rochioli offering it this fall, I think I’m going to order a few. It doesn’t sound very complex, but why not!
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Joseph Swan makes an interesting valdiguie. You could throw in Wilson Foreigner as well on the Napa side. Neither one is all that expensive, ~$30ish I think, and it would be fun to taste them all together.
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Bird Horse also makes one
It’s been a few years, so I don’t know if Pax still makes one, but this rendition was excellent. Tons of acidity, fairly low in tannin, and moderately complex with somewhat dominant blueberry notes; I remember this being a really delicious pairing with an arugula and goat cheese salad with dried fruit. The wine was helped by being served a little cold, not unlike beaujolais w/frisee aux lardons. A quick google shows wines from Cruse and Broc currently available, which would interest me.
I’ll bet @Otto_Forsberg could offer more details on the variety itself.
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Cruse does a Valdiguie sparkler. Interesting wine.
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With no offense intended, it’s a great summer/barbecue wine.
Well I’m lucky enough to be on Pax’s mailing list so I shall seek it out-thanks for the tip!
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Lioco makes a pretty tasty version. So does Major Wines, if you’re looking for a sampling.
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Had one of the Rochilois a few years ok. We found it to be nothing special. They used to label it Gamay until they were told that is wasn’t.
Now, the Syrah is definitely worth a try.
Joseph Swan - N. Sonoma
Wilson Foreigner - Rancho Chimiles, Napa
Thacher - Shell Creek, Paso (they do 2 - one being “nouveau” with some carbonic in a clear glass)
Cruse - Pet Nat, Napa
J. Lohr - Wildflower, Arroyo Seco
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I had a very good rose of valdiguie made by Jolie Laide off a restaurant list in Minneapolis once.
It looks like they also make a red blend with valdiguie, poulsard, gamay and trousseau, some kind of naturalistic carbonic type summer red, but I haven’t had that.
I’ve liked a few different vintages of Folk Machine’s Valdiguié.
I’m a fan, great summer wine. My favorite three so far are Toulouse, Ridge Frediani, and Thacher Shell Creek.
I tried some out of tank once… I think it stripped some enamel 
Really enjoy the Cruse … never had others but I like Lioco’s wines a lot.
The 2019 version from Rochioli was fantastic. You can’t go wrong here for $28. I ordered a bunch.
Tom
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In the wayback, the variety was known and labeled as Napa Gamay.
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I believe Pax is the winemaker for these wines.
Very fun wines.
If you had to compare it (in its red wine form) to another variety, what is it most like?
Sorry to disappoint you! Valdiguié (aka. Napa Gamay) is a very US thing. Although there is some grown in south of France, virtually all of it disappears in blends and I can’t remember ever even tasting a blend with some Valdiguié. Don’t know if there are any producers making varietal Valdiguié in France.
So I guess all the varietal Valdiguié wines come from the US. And I don’t know if any are exported, so the chances of tasting them on this side of the pond are pretty slim.
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