What is so special about Beaujolais Nouveau?

Beaujolais vineyards


What is so special about Beaujolais Nouveau?


Couldn’t any wine be offered as vin de primeur? In fact, wasn’t that what the world had been consuming throughout most of history - prior to the glass bottle and cork?


Not according to the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), a branch of the French Ministry of Agriculture, created in 1935 to manage the viticulture in France. Every wine region of France bearing an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) status, which translates as "controlled designation of origin," is strictly regulated in its production including the release date of its wines.


In 1951, a minor (at first glance) change to the AOC regulations for Beaujolais permitted the distribution of Beaujolais wines as of November 15th instead of the previous December 15th date. Georges Duboeuf, a talented Beaujolais producer and négociant, rushed the freshly fermented new Beaujolais to Paris where it was an immediate hit. Within a few years, the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau became a national event in France. “Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé” was, and still is the slogan. Europe and the rest of the world were conquered by the Beaujolais Nouveau infatuation shortly afterwards. The release date of the Beaujolais Nouveau as the third Thursday in November was established in 1985.


Other wine producing countries have started their own “new wine” campaigns with more or less success (mostly less). For example, Italy has "vino novello", Spain "vino nuevo", and the US has "nouveau wine," etc.


So, Beaujolais Nouveau has become a ritual. Every year I impatiently await the third Thursday of November to acquire half a dozen bottles of the new wine. For many reasons… because it's the first wine of the vintage and because of its fresh taste and the association of that particular taste with the winter season and the Thanksgiving table, and during and after the holidays, but prior to the spring season.


One additional thing, do not try to compare or over-analyze Beaujolais Nouveau; if you do so, you are missing the point. Enjoy it for just what it is and enjoy plenty of it!


 


Atanas Nechkov, Central Florida Wine Supervisor



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