Beaujolais Nouveau: "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!" ("The New Beaujolais has arrived!")
Every year, on the third Thursday of November, at one past midnight, over a million cases
of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey from the southern part of the Burgundy region in France to
Paris for immediate shipment to the four corners of the world. Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! ("The New
Beaujolais has arrived!") is proclaimed by all!! One of the most animated rituals
in the wine world, and a national holiday in France, has begun.
When it is over, about half of the region's total annual production will be distributed and consumed around the world. It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve this newly harvested wine. In the past, it has been carried by Concorde jet, balloon, truck and motorcycle, among many other modes of transportation, to get it to its final destination. This production comes from a quick harvest, a speedy fermentation, and a hasty bottling, to be ready by the midnight hour in mid-November. It is amazing to realize that just weeks before distribution, these grapes were on the vines in vineyards in Burgundy.
Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local phenomenon in the local bars and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons. Each fall, shortly after harvest, the new Beaujolais would arrive with much fanfare. In pitchers filled from barrels, wine was drunk by eager Frenchmen. It was wine made fast to drink immediately while the better Beaujolais was taking more time to age and improve. Eventually, the government stepped into regulate the sale of all this quickly transported wine.
In 1938 regulations restricted the distribution of the wine. In 1951, these regulations were revoked by the region's governing body and the Beaujolais Nouveau was officially recognized. The official release date was set for November 15th. By this time, what was just a local tradition had gained so much popularity that the news of the event reached Paris. The race was on!! It wasn't long before this celebration became a world-wide event. In 1985, the date was changed again, this time to the third Thursday of November, tying it to a weekend (for more fun and frivolity) and making the celebration what it is today. But wherever the new Beaujolais went, importers had to agree not to sell it before midnight on the third Thursday of November.
The race from harvest to glass may be silly, but half the fun is knowing that on the same night, all around the world, the same celebration is
taking place. It is not, by any means, a great wine, but it is
always good and well worth taking part in the celebration. Look for the label to the left in your local wine stores. Georges Duboeuf has been a tireless promoter of the event world wide. The wines are popular because they are red wines with white wine characteristics. They are pressed so fast that the tannins usually found in red wines are not present and what is left is an easy to drink, fruity red wine. They are best served "chilled". The wine world can at times be snobby and aloof. . . but not with this event. Go out this year and take part in this long held tradition and know that there are millions around the world doing the same!!
For those in southeast Michigan. . . there is a party celebrating the Beaujolais Nouveau. Lee Hershey, a very well respected wine professional holds his annual Beaujolais Nouveau get-together. . .
This year's party will be at Karl's Log Cabin Restaurant,
6005 Gotfredson Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 (just N of the
Gotfredson exit off M-14)from 3PM to 9PM.
This is a BYO event - Bring a bottle of wine (doesn't have
to be Nouveau), a "dish-to-pass", your own wine glass,
plate, utensils, napkins and a fun attitude
We might even have some live music, if it can be worked
out.
Lee will be bringing in a dozen rare and prized bottles
from his well-stocked wine cellar to be raffled off.
So come on by - bring your family and friends - the more
the merrier - and join us in the celebration. No RSVP's
required.
See ya there!
When it is over, about half of the region's total annual production will be distributed and consumed around the world. It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve this newly harvested wine. In the past, it has been carried by Concorde jet, balloon, truck and motorcycle, among many other modes of transportation, to get it to its final destination. This production comes from a quick harvest, a speedy fermentation, and a hasty bottling, to be ready by the midnight hour in mid-November. It is amazing to realize that just weeks before distribution, these grapes were on the vines in vineyards in Burgundy.
Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local phenomenon in the local bars and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons. Each fall, shortly after harvest, the new Beaujolais would arrive with much fanfare. In pitchers filled from barrels, wine was drunk by eager Frenchmen. It was wine made fast to drink immediately while the better Beaujolais was taking more time to age and improve. Eventually, the government stepped into regulate the sale of all this quickly transported wine.
In 1938 regulations restricted the distribution of the wine. In 1951, these regulations were revoked by the region's governing body and the Beaujolais Nouveau was officially recognized. The official release date was set for November 15th. By this time, what was just a local tradition had gained so much popularity that the news of the event reached Paris. The race was on!! It wasn't long before this celebration became a world-wide event. In 1985, the date was changed again, this time to the third Thursday of November, tying it to a weekend (for more fun and frivolity) and making the celebration what it is today. But wherever the new Beaujolais went, importers had to agree not to sell it before midnight on the third Thursday of November.
The race from harvest to glass may be silly, but half the fun is knowing that on the same night, all around the world, the same celebration is
taking place. It is not, by any means, a great wine, but it is
always good and well worth taking part in the celebration. Look for the label to the left in your local wine stores. Georges Duboeuf has been a tireless promoter of the event world wide. The wines are popular because they are red wines with white wine characteristics. They are pressed so fast that the tannins usually found in red wines are not present and what is left is an easy to drink, fruity red wine. They are best served "chilled". The wine world can at times be snobby and aloof. . . but not with this event. Go out this year and take part in this long held tradition and know that there are millions around the world doing the same!!For those in southeast Michigan. . . there is a party celebrating the Beaujolais Nouveau. Lee Hershey, a very well respected wine professional holds his annual Beaujolais Nouveau get-together. . .
This year's party will be at Karl's Log Cabin Restaurant,
6005 Gotfredson Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 (just N of the
Gotfredson exit off M-14)from 3PM to 9PM.
This is a BYO event - Bring a bottle of wine (doesn't have
to be Nouveau), a "dish-to-pass", your own wine glass,
plate, utensils, napkins and a fun attitude
We might even have some live music, if it can be worked
out.
Lee will be bringing in a dozen rare and prized bottles
from his well-stocked wine cellar to be raffled off.
So come on by - bring your family and friends - the more
the merrier - and join us in the celebration. No RSVP's
required.
See ya there!
Posted by thewinemonologues.com at 11/17/2009 9:23 AM 
Categories: General Wine Knowledge
Tags: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!
Categories: General Wine Knowledge
Tags: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!
Sounds like fun! See you Sunday. Nice job on the blog, fun to read!
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