Beaujolais Nouveau
Definition - What does Beaujolais Nouveau mean?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a special French wine produced in the Beaujolais region, for only a limited time each year. The wine is fermented for only a few weeks prior to the third Thursday of November, which has been designated as "Beaujolais Nouveau Day." Beajolais Nouveau is distinguished by fruity flavors, along with a lack of tannins due to its limited aging time.
WineFrog explains Beaujolais Nouveau
Historically, Beaujolais Nouveau has been manufactured for local consumption as a vin de l'année, in celebration of the end of the fall harvest. As a vin de premieur, AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) regulations allow Beaujolais Nouveau to be sold in the same year that it was harvested.
Made from a grape cultivar known as Gamay noir à Jus blanc, Beaujolais Nouveau is made from grapes that are harvested entirely by hand. It's made using a wine making process called carbonic maceration, a technique in which the grapes are fermented, prior to being crushed in an environment rich in carbon dioxide. This process imparts unique chemical effects that give Beaujolais Nouveau its distinctive quality, low in tannins and marked by fruit flavors derived from esters. Its flavor has been variously compared to figs, grapes, bananas, and other fruits. It tends to be light in body, and slightly acidic.
A light and fruity wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is coupled with light pairings such as charcuterie, terrines, and mild, white rinded French cheeses like Brie and Camembert.
