How Beaujolais Became One of the World’s Most Misunderstood Wines
And why this Beaujolais obsessive thinks today is the day to set the record straight
Americans might all be about the fourth Thursday in November, but in the wine world, the third Thursday is the big calendar entry of the year.
For this is Beaujolais Nouveau day. The day when the first wines from Beaujolais (and indeed the whole of Europe) are released from that year’s harvest.
For this Beaujolais-obsessed soul, that makes it the best day of the year.
The problem for Beaujolais, however, is that it’s incredibly misunderstood. Yes, Beaujolais may be like crack to young, hip Somms (as I once was before I hit middle age) but the general public often thinks otherwise.
When I owned a wine store and bar, I often heard the same three statements:
Beaujolais is too light and it can’t age. It’s not a serious wine.
Isn’t all Beaujolais natural bullsh*t now?
Ah Beaujolais Nouveau, I remember it from the 1980s. Fun times, crap wine.
All three of these have a nugget of truth. But as with all sweeping statements about wine, not truth enough.
