It is Beaujolais Nouveau time again!!!

The first wines of 2012 will be available tomorrow, Thursday at an ABC Fine Wine & Spirits store near you.

This year, look for the new Domaine Rochecorbière Beaujolais Nouveau 2012; highly recommended!!

The story of Beaujolais Nouveau started more than 70 years ago; in 1951 a minor change to the AOC regulations for Beajolais, permitted the distribution of Beaujolais wines as of November 15^th instead December 15th previously. 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
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 date of the release of Beaujolais Nouveau as the third Thursday in November was established in 1985.

Beaujolais Nouveau has become a ritual. Every year I impatiently await that third Thursday of November to acquire half a dozen bottles of the new wine for many reasons: because it is the first wine of the vintage, and because of its fresh taste and the association of that particular taste with the winter season, the Thanksgiving table and the holidays.

Atanas Nechkov, Wine Supervisor, Central Florida and East Coast

follow me on Twitter @abcwineatanas