Alcoholic Beverage, Wine, Table, Red, Gamay: How Many Grams in a Cup?
Red Gamay wine, the grape variety behind Beaujolais, is a light-bodied table wine with a density of 0.994 g/ml, slightly lighter than water due to its alcohol content (typically 12-13% ABV). One US cup weighs approximately 235 g and one tablespoon about 14.7 g. Gamay produces wines with bright cherry and raspberry fruit character, low tannins, and moderate acidity. In cooking, it is used for pan sauces with poultry, coq au vin variations, wine-poached pears, and as a deglazing liquid for mushroom dishes. Weighing wine ensures consistent flavor concentration in reductions where volume decreases by half or more.
Quick convert
- US cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 tbsp = 14.787 mL
- 1 tsp = 4.929 mL
Reference table
| Cups | g |
|---|---|
| 0.3 | 59 |
| 0.5 | 118 |
| 0.8 | 176 |
| 1.0 | 235 |
| 1.5 | 353 |
| 2.0 | 470 |
FAQ
- Why is red Gamay wine slightly lighter than water?
- At 0.994 g/ml, Gamay wine's density falls below water (1.000 g/ml) because ethanol (0.789 g/ml) at 12-13% ABV lowers the overall density. Residual sugar and dissolved tannins partially offset this, but in dry wines like most Gamay/Beaujolais, sugar content is minimal (<4 g/L), keeping density just under 1.000.
- How does Gamay's low tannin level affect its use in cooking compared to Cabernet?
- Gamay's low tannins mean it produces gentler, less astringent sauces when reduced. A cup of Gamay (235 g at 0.994 g/ml) reduced by half yields a lighter, fruitier sauce than the same weight of Cabernet Sauvignon, which has 3-5 times more tannins that concentrate and can become bitter during reduction.
- Can I substitute Gamay wine for other red wines by weight in recipes?
- Yes. Most dry red table wines have densities between 0.990 and 0.998 g/ml, so a gram-for-gram substitution is nearly volumetrically equivalent. However, Gamay's lighter body and lower tannins will produce a less robust sauce than a heavier wine like Syrah or Cabernet. For delicate dishes like poached fruit, Gamay is actually preferred.