Every year on the third Thursday of November, France celebrates the feast of young wine made from the current year’s harvest – Beaujolais Nouveau. Connoisseurs around the world are looking forward to this day to enjoy the unique taste of still unripened young wine, and master winemakers make good money on this.
Beaujolais nouveau (from the French “Beaujolais nouveau”) is a young French wine made from Gamay grapes in the province of Burgundy. A holiday of the same name is celebrated in his honor, which has become one of the most famous wine events in the world.
Beaujolais wine has a sharp taste and intolerant fruity bouquet with hints of cherries, currants and raspberries. The color of the drink is red with a slight sheen. Tasters appreciate Beaujolais for its lightness and unique taste, which is difficult to confuse with other wines.
When to celebrate
According to French law, Beaujolais nouveau is celebrated every third Thursday in November. The celebrations begin at exactly 12 am with the phrase “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” – Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!
Beaujolais wine goes on sale immediately after the end of the fermentation process. Only 6 weeks pass from the moment of harvesting to its appearance on the counter. Experts call the holiday itself a clever marketing ploy, since it is impossible to get long-term storage wine from the Gamay grape variety. But the French managed to turn this disadvantage into the dignity of their wine. Now Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated both in Europe and in America.
How to drink Beaujolais nouveau
Beaujolais wine is usually served chilled to 13°C. They drink it according to the classic wine etiquette, eating white bread, sausages, cheeses, cold cuts, soups and poultry meat. A distinctive feature of Beaujolais wines is a short shelf life (about 5 months), they are sold until March next year.
Famous manufacturers
The most famous brands of Beaujolais Nouveau are:
- Domaine Yvon Metras;
- Louis Jadot;
- Georges Duboeuf;
- Albert Bichot;
- Jean-Paul Thevenet.
You can also buy Beaujolais Nouveau wine in Russia, but experts recommend drinking it only during the celebration. This is not so much a fine wine, but a holiday that can be fun to celebrate with friends.