The third Thursday of November is an important day every year for all wine lovers. The Beaujolais Nouveau celebration is a unique opportunity to taste a specific variety of wine that will not be repeated for another 12 months. Where did the custom of celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau come from? What characterizes the wine served on this day? How to drink it to appreciate its unique and inimitable taste and aroma?
The unique celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau
Every year, on the third Thursday of November, Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated worldwide. In bars and restaurants, bottles of literally freshly corked wine are opened, and connoisseurs revel in its specific taste. Young wine, from French Beaujolais, has been filling glasses for hundreds of years, a few days before Advent. Apparently, the celebration falls on a Thursday so that the wine can be drunk slowly and savored, remembering that one has to return to work the next day!
Beaujolais Nouveau 2023 falls on November 16th (while Beaujolais Nouveau 2024 will be celebrated on November 21st, 2021). Even if you don't have the opportunity to celebrate in your favorite establishment, there's nothing stopping you from buying original young wine in a well-stocked store and enjoying it in the comfort of your home. However, it's still worth remembering the special setting!
A wine production process unlike any other
The wine for Beaujolais Nouveau is made from Gamay grapes. This varietal is cultivated in the southern Beaujolais region, in French Burgundy. What distinguishes this wine is primarily the fact that it is sold and consumed shortly after bottling, without waiting for aging or cellar maturation. The production process of young wine itself also deserves attention.
The red grapes are harvested by hand, along with their stems and pedicels. The fruits are not crushed in any way – they only break accidentally under their own weight. This alone has a huge impact on the final taste. Then, in closed stainless steel tanks, without oxygen, the grapes ferment, yeasts work, and CO2 is released. Carbonic maceration occurs, lasting about 4 days. The wine then goes into bottles, which – approximately 8 weeks after harvesting – are exported to almost all countries worldwide.
The shelf life of Beaujolais Nouveau is just one year – after this time, the liquid turns into wine vinegar. Thanks to the tradition of celebration, it is said that even half of the annual production of as much as 450,000 hectoliters of wine is consumed within the first month of leaving the vineyards! The last bottles of a given vintage can be sold no later than August 31st of the following year.
Taste and prophecy - how Beaujolais Nouveau tastes
In the world of wine connoisseurs, it is said that Beaujolais Nouveau has as many fans as it does detractors. Its taste is very unusual and does not resemble other red varieties of this wine, even those produced from the same grapes.
The alcohol filling the wine glasses has very few tannins. It is tart and moderately acidic. Its taste is light and fruity, and its aroma is very distinct, though it dissipates quickly.
Interestingly, the bouquet of young wine noticeably changes under the influence of weather conditions and is perceptibly different after each harvest. The worse the year for producers, the more tart the wine is – sometimes it is so noticeable that Beaujolais Nouveau is difficult to drink. It is also supposedly a harbinger for wines of a given vintage and for the entire wine world! How the tasting will go is therefore always a surprise for celebrants. It's worth ensuring that Beaujolais Nouveau 2023 also provides an extraordinary experience this year!
Exceptional setting - how to serve Beaujolais Nouveau
Unlike other red wines, Beaujolais Nouveau is served lightly chilled. It also does not require decanting. You can pour it directly into your favorite KROSNO wine glasses: elegant, made of crystal glass, with a long stem and a plump bowl. To maintain tradition even at home, everything should proceed according to savoir-vivre rules.
On this special day, you can also opt for a dinner consisting of French products and dishes that perfectly complement Beaujolais Nouveau. Light cheeses such as camembert and brie, delicate pâté, thinly sliced smoked hams or hunter's sausage, and even pieces of grilled meat can be arranged on a wooden board or an exquisite glass platter. A salad with goat cheese and pomegranate can be found in a decorative salad bowl. Some restaurants also serve a glass of young wine with roasted fish or chicken, or with juicy beef.
Regardless of whether this holiday is a permanent fixture in a wine connoisseur's calendar or a novelty for someone just discovering the extraordinary world of wine, it's worth participating in Beaujolais Nouveau. It's a great opportunity to enjoy the moment, good company, and a unique taste, regardless of the circumstances!