Beaujolais Nouveau: what is it, where and when
As the French say: "Le Beaujolais est arrivé!", which means "Beaujolais has arrived!".
It is with this simple phrase that they welcome the new season of a simple, but at the same time wildly popular young wine all over the world. In honor of whom a real holiday is organized and celebrated every year on the third Thursday of November.
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a young wine produced from Gamay grapes. The drink goes on sale exactly six weeks after the harvest. These terms are regulated at the legislative level in France.
Beaujolais has a transparent red color and a very light, lively and somewhat sharp taste, which is set off by soft notes of cherries, raspberries and black currants. The wine is not intended for long-term storage and is usually consumed until March of the year following the harvest.
Sommeliers and true connoisseurs of this drink recommend serving it chilled to a temperature of 13 degrees. Meat or cheese slices are perfect as an appetizer.
Today, about 45 million liters of wine are produced annually. Almost half of it is exported far beyond France. The big fans of this young grape drink are the Japanese, Germans and Americans.
And the largest producers of Beaujolais Nouveau can rightfully be considered:
Albert Bichot
Louis Jadot
Jean-Paul Thevenet
Georges Duboeuf
Domaine Yvon Metras
Where and when is the Boujol Nouveau produced?
As mentioned earlier, Beaujolais Nouveau is produced in the east of France, in the province of the same name in the territory of historical Burgundy.
For the first time Burgundy winemakers presented their drink in the XIX century. And on September 8, 1951, France passed a law according to which the wine of the current year could be sold in the country no earlier than December 15. But the Beaujolais winemakers asked for an exception, and since then, young Beaujolais wine has been on sale in November, on the third Thursday of the month.
The young wine reached its greatest popularity in the 1980s, but today interest in it is gradually declining, but still its connoisseurs continue to wait for the new season to enjoy its taste and aroma again.
Interesting fact! Beaujolais Nouveau appeared on the American market in 2005 and marketers developed a new advertising slogan - "It’s Beaujolais Nouveau Time!", which means "Time of Beaujolais Nouveau"!".
Beaujolais Nouveau's celebration and traditions
The main idea of the holiday is to drink a lot and have fun. In Burgundy, at midnight on the main square of the city, everyone loudly chants "Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!"and at 00.01 sales of young wine begin.
And it is sold neither in glasses nor in bottles, not in boxes or even barrels, but Beaujolais is sold by the meter. The bottles are lined up and if someone can overcome them, he gets another bottle as a gift. Therefore, for most French people, the Friday following the Beaujolais holiday becomes a "non-working day". This is a good reason not to come to work. And most often the celebration lasts until Sunday.
The beauty of this holiday is its simplicity and the absence of any preparations. Simple, fun, affordable - these are all the traditions of Beaujolais.
Update: 23.03.2018
Category: Wine and Vermouth