The French are terrific marketers. Today (11/15/2007) is the international release of Beaujolais Nouveau. Beaujolais is a part of Burgundy in France that produces very specific wines. The French government dictates what kind of grapes can be grown in each region. So when you are drinking a French wine you know what you are getting by its region, known as appellation. This system seems a little arcane, and has always been somewhat confusing to American consumers. Hence, California winemakers label their bottles with the type of grape. I will pursue those ideas in a future post, but now back to today’s significance.
Beaujolais Nouveau, from the northern region of Burgundy, is made from Gamay grapes. Various French governmental and producer agencies set the release date, finally settling on the third Thursday of November. Many years ago a marketing campaign to get out the newest wine of the vintage was started and there were races, by auto, train, and plane, from the wineries to the cafes and bistros of Paris to get the first wine to the consumer. By the 1970’s this race attracted a lot of media coverage. By the ’80s the rest of Europe was caught up in the frenzy. This race has now extended across the Atlantic, and in every city in America you will see intense marketing campaigns for Beaujolais Nouveau. They even celebrate its arrival in Asia, always on the same day worldwide. Fed Ex is wonderful.
Picture this: the grapes in these bottles were picked only 9 weeks ago! So the 
producers are getting early cash flow and making a great profit on a table wine.
More marketing: this wine goes great with a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner! There are so many taste components in that meal that it is a true challenge to make a good pairing. You’ve got turkey and sometimes ham; cranberry relish or jam; sweet potato everything, some even with marshmallows; green beans with crispy canned onions on top; creamy mashed potatoes with thick rich gravy. This would ordinarily be a nightmare for a sommelier. Well, the French have done it for us all in one bottle! This wine is so young some people liken it to fruit juice. It is light bodied, fresh, soft, fruity and tart all at the same time. That comes from the acid, which makes it such a great palate cleanser. It refreshes your mouth for each new bite of food. It is easy to drink and easy to understand.
There are many producers, and even serious wine afficionados take a taste test each year to see which is the best. But the most prolific and popular is George Deboeuf followed by Joseph Drouhin. Note the hugely colorful labels when you walk in to your wine store. Ask you friendly merchant for a recommendation, or grab the prettiest bottles from the grocery shelf. Drink it slightly chilled and within the next 6 to 8 months. This is not meant for long storage. It is pure fun and enjoyment.
Of course, Beaujolais Nouveau may not be for everyone. So here are some other Turkey Day recommendations: White Wines:2004 Trimbach Gewurztraminer ($18), 2006 Gundlach Bundschu Gewurztraminer ($25), 2006 Columbia Crest Riesling ($10) , any of the Spanish Albarinos I have mentioned in the past, or various sauvignon blancs from California or New Zealand. Rose Wines: 2005 Rosenblum Rose ($18), 2006 Lynmar Vin Gris of Pinot Noir ($20). Red Wines:2004 Chateau St. Michel “Orphelin” Red Table wine from Washington State ($30), and of course any type of Pinot Noir that fits your budget. Also look for wines with syrah, mourvedre or grenache grapes from anywhere in the world. And good old American Red Zinfandel, if its lower in alcohol it will be more food-friendly. And if you are really stumped, get out the sparklers: Champagne and Methode Champenois.
I will also try a nice Chassange-Montrachet from Burgundy along with my usual Pinot Noir But my big sacrifice for you, readers, will be in tasting many, many bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine this weekend. It’s all to get ready for my next posting of Wines for the Weekend (Holiday Edition).
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!