You probably know that the American phenomenon of Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday of November. But did you know that the third Thursday of November also has a claim to fame? It is the day that the most recent Beaujolais vintage becomes available to the world.
So why does Beaujolais have a day all to itself? According to a rule established in 1985, Beaujolais, a wine produced from the Gamay grape, cannot be uncorked until it strikes midnight on the third Thursday of November. Hence the wine uncorked on this day bears the name ‘Beaujolais Nouveau’ – new Beaujolais. Millions of bottles of Beaujolais are opened on the third Thursday of November - nearly half of the 13 million cases of Beaujolais that are produced annually are sold within a few weeks of this day – and it has become a cause for celebration for people worldwide.
If you try Beaujolais, you’ll notice that it has aromas of pear, apples, ripe cherries and other fruity smells. And this year’s harvest has produced a fruity, supple wine that wine lovers are already saying stands up quite well to the 2009 vintage, a vintage which has been praised as nothing but excellent. Since Beaujolais tends to be a lighter wine, it can be easier to drink than fuller-bodied reds and serves as a great ‘transition’ wine from whites to reds.
Coincidentally, Beaujolais also pairs well with poultry. So if you’re planning to make your own turkey feast this Thanksgiving, know of someone looking for a good wine pairing for their turkey dinner, or are just curious, Beaujolais might be a good option for you to try.
If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of Beaujolais. How important or unimportant is wine in your culture? Are there wines that accompany certain traditions, holidays, or ceremonies in your culture?
This post was researched and written by One To World intern, Jessica Zhang.
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