The third Thursday of November marks a special occasion in the wine world – it’s the global launch of Beaujolais Nouveau, the vin de primeur from the French wine region of Beaujolais that has taken much of the world by storm since the 1970s.

The beauty of Beaujolais Nouveau, unlike the celebrated wines from many other French regions that are great for cellaring, is that it’s meant to be drunk fresh. Exceedingly fresh. The idea of a vin de primeur – which Beaujolais Nouveau is – is that it’s literally rushed to the market barely a couple of months after harvest with mere weeks of fermentation in between. In fact, the rise of Beaujolais Nouveau came about from the race to get the first bottles of such vin de primeur from Beaujolais to Paris.

Beaujolais Nouveau employs the Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc grape – better simply known as Gamay – the growing of which was banned in the 14th century in nearby Cote d’Or by the then Duke of Bourgogne Phillipe the Bold in favour of Pinot Noir. Gamay moved to Beaujolais where it flourished, and the rest is wine history.

For some reason though Beaujolais Nouveau, and the celebrations around it, isn’t yet popular in Singapore. But if you’re looking to try some Beaujolais Nouveau, your best bet is over at the following locations:

  • Le Vigne Wines & Spirits: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau ($32.50), Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Villages ($34.90)
  • Isetan Scotts: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau ($32.50), Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Villages ($34.90)
  • Meidi-ya: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau ($32.50), Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Villages ($34.90)
  • Ma Maison: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
  • Fullerton Bay Hotel: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

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