Beaujolais Nouveau and New Beginnings

I know it’s hokey, and I know it’s not fine wine, and yet, I could not resist buying a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau at a local wine shop a year ago in November of ‘24. In the ‘80s when stationed in Germany, the annual November release of Beaujolais Nouveau was something we looked for, and looked forward to.

Beaujolais Nouveau is released every year on the third Thursday of November. This year, that is next week on November 20th, 2025. Just six to eight weeks after the grapes are picked, the wine is quickly made, and then on the third Thursday of November released. Shipments race across the world on planes, trains, trucks, and automobiles. It is the freshest wine in the world, every single year. The wine must come from specific appellations to receive ‘AOC’ status and 35 million bottles are shipped worldwide each year.

There are those who call it a peasant wine, or a gimmick wine. In a way it is. But it is a real wine. While some critics call it a silly wine, no less a wine critic than Robert M Parker called those opinions “ludicrous” and described the better vintages as “delicious, zesty, exuberant, fresh, vibrantly fruity wines.”

What is so special about Beaujolais Nouveau in my opinion? Not the wine itself, although it is certainly drinkable. I think it is the promise of new beginnings. The fact that just a few weeks before, these grapes were on the vine and now they are something new. No pretense. No artifice. Not a wine to age or hold in the cellar. And certainly not a serious wine. Instead, a wine to drink in the moment and celebrate being here and alive.

Last year, we drank our bottle with Moules Pastis (mussels with Pernod.)  For me, it is a natural pairing. We had a crusty baguette with the moules and were briefly back in Europe for the evening. The meal was not earthshaking, but it was good. It was simple and tasty. The kind of meal and wine you would enjoy on a weeknight, whether at home, or at a simple bistro in France. You may not think about it the next day, but you appreciate it that night. 

Next week, I will check our local wine shops for this year’s arrival. Then, Cath and I will have a simple meal, enjoy the bottle, pretend we are in Europe and celebrate life and each other. Honestly, the kind of thing we should all do more often. 

Cheers to all of you romantics out there. Look for a bottle and have your own celebration. Celebrate freshness, newness, and life. Above all, celebrate life.

Addendum:

• Personally, I think mussels are a natural pairing with Beaujolais Nouveau. You can find recipes for both mussels and white wine, or mussels Pastis online. Many simple dishes would work. A Steak Frites, would be great.