Beaujolais Nouveau

Every year Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated on the third Thursday of November. It was in 1951 that the history of Beaujolais Nouveau began. At this date, the wine regulations in France are evolving with a decree that stipulates that all wines with the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) can only be sold on December 15th.

But winemakers in the Beaujolais region are protesting against this law and are asking for a derogation granted to them. They are allowed to sell their wine a month earlier, that's where the term "new" comes from because Beaujolais was available in advance.

This rapid sale between the grape harvest and the arrival on the stalls is possible thanks to the Beaujolais production process which only takes four days of maceration. Beaujolais is a wine called "de primeur" that is to say that it is obtained by the grapes harvested in the year. It must be consumed quickly, its shelf life not exceeding six months.

Today the Beaujolais is a world event and it is the Japanese who every year are the first to taste it. Very fond of this wine that embodies the French spirit simple and informal "à la bonne franquette", the Japanese are the second consumers of Beaujolais nouveau after the French.