Around this time of year, I reflect on how much I have to be thankful for. Counting blessings over a hearty Thanksgiving meal, surrounded by family and close friends, is really a blessing in itself! As the traditions of good food and good conversation go hand-in-hand, a fun wine should be part of the mix, and I’ve got just the one.
A bright, simple, lively red that pairs well with filling feasts and is festive even by itself– the French Beaujolais! Besides, you gotta love a wine with an interesting story!
In September, more than 35,000 workers descend upon this particular region of Burgundy to manually harvest whole bunches of the Gamay grape needed for the Beaujolais winemaking technique. The wine is released the first Thursday in November—Beaujolais Nouveau Day– a national party in France since the 1970’s, but now one we enjoy here too!
I recently had the pleasure of tasting more than a dozen different Beaujolais wines produced by “The King of Beaujolais” Georges Duboeuf. What a learning experience it was. I’m familiar with the annual tradition of drinking Beaujolais in mid November but had no idea so many different Beaujolais wines are produced from the different tiny villages in the region. All have slightly different taste profiles.
So, join the celebration. Make plans to grab a Beaujolais Nouveau when those light, fruity bottles hit the shelves on Beaujolais Day.
And, as you begin to plan for your own Turkey Day, think Beaujolais. Be adventurous – start with the Beaujolais Nouveau, but by all means, look for some of the other Beaujolais wines too – Cru Beaujolais and Domaine wines. It might be a fun deviation from the traditional Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at Thanksgiving…or just a perfect start to a fabulous day spent with family and friends.
[…] there is the family-friendly Beaujolais by Faux Pas. The Beaujolais Nouveau is especially popular this time of year – in fact, Beaujolais Nouveau Day is designated as […]