What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

Did you know that there is a wine that has a worldwide party to celebrate its arrival? It's called Beaujolais Nouveau , and on the third Thursday of November, the world raises glasses to toast it. 🎉🍷

I invite you to toast with me by learning a little more about this festival that has been taking place since the 1950s and is now famous not only in the Burgundy region, where Beaujolais wine comes from, but also in the old and new world. Here in Lisbon, where I communicate and write from, I already have my favorite wine bars to celebrate! And if you want to know where to celebrate, just read the post until the end or check out my social media @ liviad.gu imaraes.

BEUJOLAIS NOUVEAU - TATI WINEBAR

But what is this wine? Why is it so special? And how can you take advantage of this fun tradition to learn more about wine (and enjoy it in style)? Let’s find out together!

What I can say is that if you are new to the world of wine, which is amazing, you are welcome and in my opinion there is no better wine to start with in this universe than Beujolais. Why? Let's find out together below!

1. What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

Imagine a young, light, fresh wine full of history! 🍇

It comes from the Beaujolais region, southern Burgundy in France, made with the Gamay grape.
It is harvested, fermented and bottled in just a few weeks – practically an “instant wine”!
Their arrival is a tradition that began in the 1950s and has become a global event.

Why so young? Unlike other wines that need time to mature, Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be drunk young, taking advantage of its fruity, fresh vibe.

2. Why does the world celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau?

This tradition began as a strategy used by French producers to sell wine right after the harvest. But it ended up becoming a celebration! Today, in many countries, restaurants, wine bars and wine lovers gather to toast its arrival. After all, there's nothing better than a reason to celebrate, don't you agree?

🔑 Fun fact: The slogan "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!" (Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!) became famous in the 1970s and helped popularize the drink globally.

NEW CYCLE - BEAUJOLAIS

3. What does Beaujolais Nouveau taste like?

If you've never tried it, here's the secret:

Flavor: Light, fruity, with notes of strawberry, cherry and banana. Yes, banana – it is the result of the carbonic fermentation process. 🍓🍌 You know that candy aroma? That's right, because of maceration, the process used to make wine, the drink gains aromatic notes like this.
Body: Smooth, easy to drink. Remember when I said it's an easy wine to drink, specially for beginers? That's why!
Pairing: As you know, I'm a big believer that every wine always has - or almost always has - a recipe or ingredients that will highlight and elevate the experience. But because this wine has a smooth body and is easy to drink, it's definitely a good option that doesn't necessarily need accompaniments. But of course, if you're on my team, I recommend: Light cheeses, cold cuts, pizzas, tapas and even a good burger!

Tip for beginners: Beaujolais Nouveau is perfect for those who want to start exploring the world of wine without feeling intimidated.

4. How to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau at home?

Want to join in the tradition? Here are some ideas:

Try a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau: Available in many markets and wine shops.
Create a relaxed board: Cheeses, cold cuts, breads and red fruits go very well together, as well as some dried fruits and nuts.
Invite your friends: Throw a mini party and toast in style!
Share on social media: Use hashtags like #BeaujolaisNouveau and #VinhoParaTodos to get into the global spirit and of course, if you want, tag me on Instagram @ liviad.guimaraes I will be very happy to see that I am part of this celebration!

5. How and where to celebrate in Lisbon?

I will suggest some of my favorite places where I know celebrations will take place and because as many of you know, I currently reside in Lisbon.

Os Goliardos : One of the main meeting points for wine-related events in Lisbon. They frequently organize themed parties and are already known for celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau with enthusiasm, offering a special selection of wines from the region. Find out more by clicking in.
Independent Food : Located on Rua de São Paulo, Cais do Sodré, this space is known for its curation of natural wines and small producers. I particularly love this place! They have participated in previous editions of Beaujolais Nouveau and are a great place to explore.
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Black Sheep Lisbon : My favorite! Where I feel at home with a laid-back vibe and AMAZING staff. A wine bar that focuses on authentic, small-production wines. It's an interesting choice for a more casual evening celebrating Beaujolais.
Club Chateaux: If you really want to celebrate the party in an authentic and French way, and that doesn't mean leaving early, let's be clear hehe I suggest toasting at the French wine bar located in the Saldanha neighborhood. This is also one of my favorites. Sophisticated but cool in the right measure. They will have great entertainment there with the partners they work with. By the way, if you want to meet me that's where I'll probably be!
Opif: Opif is one of the most fun wine bars in Lisbon. Located in the Anjos neighborhood, Intendente, this small wine bar owned by a French owner focuses on natural Portuguese wines. They serve tapas such as rillettes, which are a type of meat, fish or poultry that has been chopped or shredded, seasoned with salt and pepper and slowly preserved in its own fat, or the fat of another animal, olive oil or butter to make a thick paste for sandwiches or pasta filling. Needless to say, it is delicious and goes perfectly with our Beujolais Noveau.
Tati wine bar: Finally, another one of my favorites. Yes, they all are, I'm sorry. But Tati always surprises, whether with an incredible selection of labels, the knowledge of the owners and also, of course, the food they serve. Last year, they created a special and harmonized menu for Beujolais Noveau. This year, the feat will be repeated. It was where I celebrated the 2022 harvest and I can say that it was incredibly delicious.

These are some great places for those who want to enjoy the event with well-selected wines in a relaxed atmosphere. I encourage you to toast, whether at home or on the street, as there is never a shortage of excuses to celebrate life and the new harvest, of course.

If you are a wine brand or distributor, why not join me in creating amazing content that celebrates traditions like Beaujolais Nouveau? Let’s toast together to the new harvest and to creating content that connects consumers to the world of wine in a creative and innovative way.

Finally, tell me!

Have you ever heard of Beaujolais Nouveau? Have you tried it? If so, what did you think? Leave your opinion in the comments, or write to me on Instagram and if you try it this year, tell me what you paired it with. Let's exchange ideas and celebrate together! 🍷💬