The celebration of young wine lasts for several days, during which the drink is tasted.

Beaujolais Nouveau’s annual young wine festival has started in France, Echo reports.

The holiday, which originated in Burgundy in the last century, is held under the motto “Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!”. Traditionally, it lasts a few days, during which the drink is usually tasted.

Today, more than a third of Burgundy’s wineries focus on Beaujolais. It is produced from the “game” grape variety, which ripens quickly, thanks to which it goes on sale before other wines harvested in the same year.

The younger the wine, the better

Beaujolais nouveau wines are divided into four categories: Beaujolais, Beaujolais Superieur, Beaujolais-Villages and Cru de Beaujolais. As in the case of olive oil, Beaujolais Nouveau applies the principle – “the younger the better.” This wine is stored for no more than six months, so it is recommended to drink it before the New Year or, as a last resort – before the Easter holidays.

All grapes are harvested only by hand

All grapes in the Beaujolais region are harvested by hand. Game is the only grape variety allowed for Beaujolais. In the 14th century, it was considered “less noble” than other grape varieties and was banned from growing in other parts of Burgundy. However, it is this grape variety that has brought world fame to Beaujolais wines, which have a light and fresh taste.

During the war, the holiday of Beaujolais Nouveau was not celebrated

In the XIX century, the winegrowers of the Beaujolais region began to celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau for the first time. The grapes there ripened faster than in other regions of France and their collection began earlier, therefore, and the inhabitants of these regions could be the first to taste the wine. In those days the holiday was celebrated in late October. During the German occupation, the holiday was not celebrated. The Germans introduced special taxes and rules for the sale of controlled wines in France. But after the war, the tradition resumed.

Wine is served with “rustic cuisine”

Beaujolais Nouveau is drunk from glasses with a capacity of 0.5 to 1 liter. In restaurants and cafes, a sheet with a special offer is added to the wine list and a special menu is made. Young wine is usually served with “rustic” cuisine, such as smoked ham, roast, ham, grilled meat. It is also recommended to serve wine at a temperature of + 14… + 16 degrees.

Beaujolais Nouveau in the Guinness Book of Records

In 1993, in an English beer hall, a citizen paid $ 1,450 for the first glass of Beaujolais Nouveau. This fact was recorded by representatives of the Guinness Book of Records. Beaujolais Nouveau’s sales statistics are currently staggering: they are imported to 200 countries around the world, in the amount of 55 million bottles.

Earlier, in France, the government issued a decree banning workers from drinking wine at lunchtime.

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