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Where does Beaujolais Nouveau come from?



Every year, on the third Thursday in November, wine lovers the world over rejoice at the release of this emblematic beverage. Beaujolais Nouveau is much more than just a wine, it's a tradition deeply rooted in French culture, and there are many reasons to celebrate this festival.

The history of Beaujolais Nouveau

Beaujolais Nouveau is the fruit of a decades-old tradition, dating back to the early 20th century. It dates back to the inter-war years in France and has its roots in the Beaujolais region. Back then, local winegrowers used to celebrate the end of the grape harvest with convivial parties. However, it was in 1951 that the marketing of Beaujolais Nouveau really took off, thanks to the initiative of a few daring producers. They decided to bottle this young, fruity wine just a few weeks after the harvest, and release it for quick tasting. This innovative idea quickly gained in popularity, and the official release date was set for the third Thursday in November from 1985 onwards, creating an annual worldwide craze for Beaujolais Nouveau. Today, this tradition continues, and the third Thursday in November is eagerly awaited by wine lovers the world over, marking the start of the festivities surrounding this light, festive wine.


Beaujolais Nouveau, a unique wine

Beaujolais Nouveau is made from the Gamay grape variety, which grows in the Beaujolais region north of Lyon. This variety produces a light, fruity wine with little tannin. It is made using a method called 'carbonic maceration', which involves fermenting the grapes whole without crushing them. This gives the wine its bright colour and fruity flavour.

One of the most fascinating features of this wine is the speed with which it is produced. The harvest takes place in September, and the wine is bottled in mid-November, just a few weeks after the harvest. This makes it one of the freshest and youngest wines in the world.

Beaujolais Nouveau goes perfectly with many dishes, particularly those of French cuisine. It is ideal with light dishes such as salads, cold meats, cheeses and even Asian dishes. Its freshness and fruity character make it a versatile wine that can be enjoyed on many occasions.



In conclusion, Beaujolais Nouveau is an important tradition, but its sales and production are declining year on year. Despite the decline in recent years, there are still professionals (wine merchants, restaurateurs) who are motivated by the idea of celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau 2023 and letting their customers enjoy it! It's a tradition rooted in the history of French winegrowing, an international celebration of conviviality, and a wine that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed. Vitivalor Wines is proud to have distributed Domaine Chapital's Beaujolais Nouveau 2023 to a large number of wine merchants and restaurateurs who love these traditions. So as the fateful date approaches, don't forget to raise your glass of Beaujolais Nouveau in honour of this wine-making tradition!

Psst: Check out our post on this topic on Linkedin 😊

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitivalor-wines_le-beaujolais-nouveau-2023-cest-dans-deux-activity-7110596559397892097 qFna?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios__;!!Drg1BjOgkIk!VlQ3b81OPKnATz9lhBp-xB1VV8Y-2N-mc4_lJ8c0qNI04XbAW1_Ph6qi5wVXpFPBmX3wfMQYhmUk9y_iyE1ZBw$

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