Today Is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, the Kinda Fake French Holiday for Wine Lovers
By now, we’re all too familiar with fake holidays. Oh, it’s National Potato Chip Day? You don’t say. For the most part, they elicit an eye-roll.
But there’s one kinda fake holiday we’re actually interested in: Beaujolais Nouveau Day. Why? Because wine.
Every year on the third Thursday in November (that’s today!), the new Beaujolais nouveau wine is released to the masses. A light-bodied French red that’s ultra-drinkable and meant to be chilled, it’s made from Gamay grapes, only fermented for about two months—and meant to be consumed right away. Traditionally, it hits shelves in France at 12:01 a.m., followed by a frenzy of festivals, fireworks and boozy celebration. (Sounds like our kind of party.)
If you’re not in France, you’re probably wondering why this matters. (If you are in France, well, good for you.) Since the U.S. caught on in the ’70s, Beaujolais Nouveau Day became its own event in shops, bars and restaurants…so you’ll probably see it stateside, too. And while a fancy-shmancy sommelier might turn their nose at the novelty of it all…it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a bottle for yourself. (Googling participating wineshops as we speak.)
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