From vine to celebration: The story of the Beaujolais Nouveau 🍇🍷
Every year, on the third Thursday of November, France celebrates the Beaujolais Nouveau: a young, fruity
red wine that we drink once a year. But what’s behind this joyful celebration, and why has it become such a global symbol of French 'art
de vivre'?
Let’s take a look at the story, the culture, and the vocabulary behind the bottle.
A bit of history 🧐
The Beaujolais region lies just south of Burgundy, near Lyon. Its wines are made primarily from the Gamay grape, known for producing light, fruity reds.
Originally, it was a local tradition: after the harvest, winemakers would head down to Lyon with horse-drawn carts to sell the freshly made wine. It was light, young, and meant to be enjoyed quickly - a simple celebration of the new vintage.
Parisian journalists discovered this wine tradition during the Occupation and helped popularize it after World War II, turning this humble local custom into a national phenomenon.
By the 1980s, the now-famous slogan “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé !” (“The Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!”) and clever marketing campaigns helped transform this joyful regional event into a worldwide celebration. In 2022, 16.5 million bottles are sold around the world - especially in Japan, the UK, and the US.
🍇 What kind of wine is it?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a “vin primeur”.
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
This refers to a young wine made to be drunk soon after production. It undergoes a very short fermentation (just a few weeks), which
gives it its signature fresh, fruity taste.
It’s not meant to age like fine Bordeaux or Burgundy. Instead, it’s a celebration wine, perfect for toasting with friends, laughing, and sharing a meal.
Fun fact !
There are 12 Beaujolais appellations, including 10 “crus” (like Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly, or Moulin-à-Vent). These are
more complex wines that can age a bit longer - but the Beaujolais Nouveau remains the star of November.
🎉 The celebration
At midnight on the third Thursday of November, the first bottles are opened. Across France, bars, cafés, and wine cellars host lively parties with music, food, and plenty of clinking glasses (on trinque !).
The celebration has also gone global. From Tokyo to London to New York, people join in to mark the occasion.
🗣️ Useful French wine vocabulary
If you want to talk about wine like a true Français, here are a few key words to know:
|
|
English meaning
|
| Un cépage | A grape variety |
| Les vendanges | The grape harvest |
| Un vigneron / une vigneronne | A winemaker |
| Fruité | Fruity |
| Sec | Dry |
| Léger | Light |
| Les tanins | Tannins |
| Une dégustation | A tasting |
| Trinquer | To clink glasses |
| Santé ! | Cheers! |
👉 Expression to remember: “À consommer avec modération” - drink responsibly!
🎬 The Beaujolais in French Pop Culture
Films like "Ce qui nous lie" (Cédric Klapisch, 2017) and "Tu seras mon fils" (2011) beautifully capture the atmosphere of French vineyards and family wine traditions.
If you’d like to go further and truly understand the language behind the labels - the words, the expressions, and the spirit that make
France unique - why not join a French class at your Alliance Française Wellington? It’s the best way to explore
France’s culture, one glass and one word at a time.
So, when November comes… raise your glass and say:
“Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé !” 🍷🇫🇷