November 17 is...........Beaujolais Nouveau Day
Besides being a very longstanding Thanksgiving Wine choice for my family,
Wine has a long and august history, with an in-depth and diverse knowledge of the various vintages and styles being a hallmark of true upper class sophistication. But even among vintners and Oenophiliacs (wine lovers) there are certain vintages that have a reputation for excellence, and owning them is a hallmark of true wine snobbery. Those with a proper nose are able to distinguish a wine’s special bouquet, all of the subtle variations such as regions, varietal types of wine, and how the wine was manufactured.
So what does all of this have to do with Beaujolais nouveau day? Read on!
History of Beaujolais nouveau Day
Beaujolais nouveau is a special variety of wine produced from the delicious jewel-like Gamay grapes grown in the Beaujolais area of France. Such is the popularity of this vintage, that there is something of a competition to get the first bottles released for sale, and they’re always released on the Third Thursday in November. Part of what makes this wine unusual is that under the strict regulations on wine to be found in France, it is able to be sold in the same year in which it was harvested. Such wines are called vin de primeur, and tend towards grapes like the Gamay, capable of short fermentation while giving a rich fruity flavor sweetened by residual sugar.
