What Is Beaujolais Nouveau (and why do we celebrate it?)
Every November, you might see wine shops, restaurants, and even entire towns buzzing with excitement for one bottle:
BEAUJOLAIS NOVEAU
But what exactly is it, and why is it such a big deal?
What Is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a young, super-fresh red wine made from the Gamay grape in the Beaujolais region of France. Unlike most red wines, which are aged for months or years before release, Beaujolais Nouveau is made to be enjoyed immediately. It’s been released barely a few weeks after being harvested!
Here’s what makes it special:
It’s harvested in early fall and bottled just a few weeks later.
It’s made using a unique winemaking technique called carbonic maceration, which produces juicy, fruity, easy-drinking wines.
Expect flavors like bright cherry, raspberry, bubblegum, banana, violets, and that unmistakable freshness.
This is wine at its most playful and carefree: no tannins, no complexity required, just pure fun!.
Why Do We Celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau?
Historically, the wine was made for local celebration at the end of harvest, a way for winemakers to toast the vintage and share the first taste of the new year’s grapes. But in the 1950s–60s, clever marketing transformed it into a worldwide tradition. Beaujolais has turned the Beaujolais Nouveau release day into a global party.
Today, Beaujolais Nouveau Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of November, when the wine is released at 12:01 a.m. across France and shipped around the world.
You’ll see festivals, tastings, and special menus, also “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” signs everywhere in the city.
It’s a celebration of harvest, community, and the joy of wine itself, wrapped in a glass that’s fresh, simple, and meant to be enjoyed now, not saved for later.
Beaujolais vs. Beaujolais Nouveau
What’s the Difference?
Although they share the same birthplace and the same grape (the lively and expressive Gamay), Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau offer two completely different experiences and qualities.
Beaujolais Nouveau is the region’s joyful sneak preview: a wine bottled just weeks after harvest, it’s bright, playful, and meant to be enjoyed immediately: a moment-in-time celebration.
Beaujolais, on the other hand, tells a deeper, more patient story. From the broader appellations to the celebrated Crus, these wines are crafted with traditional winemaking, revealing layers of minerality, structure, and terroir.
Beaujolais Nouveau
Young wine released just weeks after harvest.
Made with carbonic maceration.
Super fresh, fruity, and light.
Meant to drink right away.
Celebrated as the “first taste” of the vintage.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, & the 10 prestigious Crus.
Wines are fermented traditionally.
More structure, depth, and complexity.
Can show minerality, spice, darker fruit, and terroir.
Many can age 10+ years (Fleury, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, etc.).
How to Enjoy the Beaujolais Noveau
Serve slightly chilled 🍷❄️
Pair with charcuterie, roast chicken, pizza, BBQ, or cozy fall foods
Enjoy from release date through January, it’s NOT for cellaring!!!
Best shared with friends (and zero pretension)
✨ Want to experience the Beaujolais Noveau in Beaujolais?✨
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