Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2024 is on Thursday, November 21, 2024: When did Beaujolais Day start?

Thursday, November 21, 2024 is Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2024. Beaujolais nouveau () is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France.

Beaujolais nouveau () is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France.

The festivities surrounding the release of the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau are based on a longstanding local custom in the bars of Lyons.

Going futher back, if I'm not mistaken, the Nouveau wine was originally intended as a bonus for the peasants and vineyard workers. People would delight and celebrate on the day of release by filling pitchers full of wine directly out of the barrels.

Nowadays, the release of the Nouveau vintage each year is a huge marketing success story. At midnight every year on the third Thursday of November, every major wine retailer around the world proudly posts their "Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrive" signs, sometimes to big line-ups.

The date of release had historically varied, but in 1985 the French government fixed the date on the third Thursday of November. This allowed retailers to maximize profits because it was close to the weekend. Internationally, the date makes business sense because of its proximity to Thanksgiving.

Just another excuse to party, and another coordinated marketing scheme to boost wine sales! Cheers!

Beaujolais nouveau 2008 .. A collectable year or not ..?

Beaujolais Nouveau is never collectable. It's made to be drunk right away. The only way it would ever be collectable is as a novelty. It's not going to age well and no one will buy it for prestige.

What is special about Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau?

The grapes are fermented briefly then sold on the third Thursday of November, or "Beaujolais Nouveau Day". Vendors rush this fragile wine to the market as quickly as it becomes available.

What makes Beaujolais Nouveau unique is that it's made from a hand picked Gamay grape that is fruity and low in tannins. For someone who likes a mouth full of flavor, this may miss the mark. But for others, this is a tasty wine that's good for only a few months out of the year. It's the soft shell crab of wines.

Hopefully you'll pick up a bottle and find out what the hype is all about.