Unleash the Beaujolais Nouveau Delight! 🍷
It's that time of the year again! The clock strikes midnight, and Beaujolais enthusiasts in Paris rejoice, as the first bottles of the 20XX harvest arrive on French soil. Since 1951, this particular wine has been the talk of the town on the third Thursday of November - a tradition that has stood the test of time, evolving from a domestic jovial toast to a global phenomenon.
The Beaujolais region, located north of Lyon, has had a bountiful harvest this year. Although a few storms and hail can be a hassle, this vintage has yielded 12% more than the previous year and a whopping 22% more than the past five years' average. The winegrowers breathed a collective sigh of relief, with President of the Inter-Beaujolais association, Philippe Bardet, praising the harvest as "fruity, rich in color, well-balanced, and seductive."
"The Beaujolais' international fame continues," Bardet said, "as France exports a significant portion of its production annually, despite the challenges."
The gamay grape variety, known for its light-bodied, fruity, and easy-drinking style, is the star of the show in Beaujolais. The region's terroir is varied, with the Bas Beaujolais and Haut Beaujolais producing distinct wines. Carbonic maceration, a unique winemaking technique, is a key component of Beaujolais production, leading to high fruitiness and low tannins.
Last year alone, approximately 10 million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau were sold in France, with Japan consuming an impressive 2.3 million bottles, followed by the USA, Great Britain, Canada, and Belgium. Germany, in particular, took delight in 160,000 bottles.
The global popularity of the Beaujolais Nouveau reached unprecedented heights in the 1970s. However, the wine's reputation took a tiny hit in the ensuing decades due to mass production and marketing of lower-quality wines. Fortunately, the love for this fruit-forward aperitif has persisted, with its refreshing and fruity qualities continuing to captivate wine aficionados around the world.
So here's to the 20XX Beaujolais Nouveau - a testament to the land, culture, and love for wine. Cheers to the first sips and the countless toasts to come! CHANTAL➡️🥳
