Beaujolais Nouveau Has Arrived
French Kick Off Holiday Season With Light, Red Wine
Beaujolais Nouveau's arrival on the third Thursday of November marks the beginning of the holiday season in France. The French wine, however, can be enjoyed worldwide.
In France, the holidays are kicked off by a specific government mandate - a wine mandate that regulates exactly when the Beaujolais Nouveau, or new wines from the Beaujolais region of France, can be uncorked. Each year, on the third Thursday of November, the Beaujolais Nouveau starts flowing.
Beaujolais is an area in France located north of Lyon that produces a bundle of wine. Through a process that bypasses regular fermentation, Beaujolais Nouveau is ready to be consumed just six weeks after the harvest. It’s also meant to be drunk that soon as this is not a wine to keep around. If you find a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau that is older than about five months, it’s a good bet that it’s probably gone bad.
Of the Gamay variety, the Beaujolais Nouveau is a light red wine that is served chilled to about 55 to 65 degrees, depending on the wine. Experts suggest serving it with salmon, grilled chicken or duck.
Depending on which estimate you go by, somewhere between 45 million and 70 million bottles of the wine are produced each year, and in that, the quality varies greatly. Most experts agree, however, that it is not a “serious” wine, but more of a party wine. It’s a wine the winemakers drink to celebrate the end of the season. On the financial side, it makes them a boatload of money, quickly. Beaujolais Nouveau accounts for somewhere between a third and half of the Beaujolais region’s wine production.
All over France, restaurants and wine caves carry banners that scream: “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” The Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived. Yes, the French do love their wine. If you’re in France, it’s hard to miss all the hoopla surrounding the beverage. But even if you can’t make it to France for the Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations, wine bars and restaurants all over the world feature the French wine, it just might take a little more effort to find it.
Oh, and because of the time difference, at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 in France, when the wine can legally be uncorked, it’s early evening in the U.S. and yes, restaurants and bars take advantage of that time difference.
Due to the commercial success of the Beaujolais Nouveau, other areas in France as well as Italy have come out with similar offerings, although not nearly as popular.
So, grab a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau and get into the French holiday spirit - wherever you are.
