Celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day today! November 19! Beaujolais Nouveau has an unusual history. Traditionally the Beaujolais Nouveau  wine release was an opportunity to celebrate the end of harvest. It is also based on the concept of releasing a wine before its time, without intense aging. Behind the story is also the idea that winemakers of Beaujolais wines wanted to let potential buyers (distributors) know about their relatively new wines and what the vintage wine would offer in the future. Since the wine does not have extended aging, the quality is at its best now.

The marketing concept is one that appears to have paid off, at least in terms of bringing attention to a wine variety’s popularity. Beaujolais Nouveau is produced with the Gamay grape variety. (Wine enthusiasts will want to know that a white Beaujolais is produced with Chardonnay.)

Excitement abounds over the next few days with the celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau Day. If you are planning to try a Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, be sure to try it soon as Beaujolais Nouveau wines are considered best during the next few months.

The Beaujolais Nouveau Day website offers a tremendous amount of information about Beaujolais Nouveau. “The wine actually originated about a century ago as a cheap and cheerful drink produced by locals to celebrate the end of the harvest season. Perhaps the most well-known producer of Beaujolais Nouveau is Georges Duboeuf, who is credited as one of the marketing geniuses behind the wine. Selling this young red was viewed by some vintners as a means to clear large quantities of wine at decent profits, which would create a much-needed cash flow shortly after harvest.”

According to the website, approximately 120 festivals in the Beaujolais region are related to Beaujolais Nouveau.

The most renowned event is the Les Sarmentelles in Beaujeu. This festival is five days long and has wine tasting, live music and dancing. A parade takes place in the evening and later at midnight fireworks announce the release of Beaujolais Nouveau.

Beaujolais Nouveau wines are shipped around the world and available on November 19 to consumers.

If you are celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau Day, where are you celebrating? What foods are you pairing the wine with?

Cheers!
Kathy