Beaujolais is a French AOC wine made from the grape Gamay
Gamay wines are known for their bright and fruity aromas, with dominant notes of red fruits like cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. Some examples may also display floral hints and a touch of spices.
Strawberry |
Raspberry |
Currant |
Cherry |
Cranberry |
Violets |
Spices |
Minerals |
Banana |
Mushroom |
Pepper |
Licorice |
Beaujolais tends to be light bodied with good fruit aromas, and very little tannin:
BODY: | Light |
TANNINS: | Low |
FRUIT: | Medium - High |
ACIDITY: | High |
ALCOHOL: | 12% ABV |
Beaujolais is best served slightly chilled: Beaujolais Nouveau 10°C (50°F) Beaujolais Villages 10-12°C (50-54°F) Beaujolais Cru 12-14°C (54-57°F) |
Thanks to a fruity character, high acidity, and low tannins, Beaujolais pairs well with a wide spectrum of food:
Antipasti |
Pasta |
Pizza |
Salmon |
Cheese |
Sausages |
Salami |
Ham |
Chicken |
Duck |
Turkey |
Veal |
Salads with Goat Cheese.
Roasted Potatoes. Onion Rings.
Seared Tuna and Salmon.
Chicken Dumplings. Chicken Paté.
Roast Chicken or Duck.
Citrus roasted Chicken.
Thanksgiving Turkey.
Pork Chops. Pork Sausages.
Tagines and Cous Cous.
Chinese Cuisine.
Lyonnaise Salad.
Coq au Vin.
Burgundy Snails with Garlic.
Jambon Persillé (Ham and Parsley).
Roast Chicken with Provence Herbs.
Pick a Burgundy Glass for swirling & releasing the wine aromas. The shape of the glass captures and directs the delicate aromas to your nose and leads the wine to the tip of your tongue for a better reception of the tastes. The Burgundy glass was designed for the delicate and aromatic red wine Bourgogne Rouge, made from Pinot Noir grapes in Bougogne (Burgundy). |
According to Jules Chauvet (the father of the french natural
wine movement),
carbonic maceration and natural wine fermentation with wild, local yeasts gives
the best expression of the terroir.
Carbonic Maceration happens when grape fermentation occurs inside the skins and it is appropriate for Gamay and Grenache.
Semi-carbonic maceration is best for Pinot Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan grapes.
Beaujolais is one of the oldest wine regions in the world, producing expertly crafted wines for over 2,000 years.
The region produces mostly light red wines which are refreshing alternatives to heavy reds.
Black Grapes
97% Gamay |
White Grapes
3% Chardonnay |
Red Wines |
White Wines |
Soil
Schist, Clay and Sandstone |
Climate
Semi-continental |
From north to south the 10 Beaujolais crus are:
Cru | Style |
---|---|
Saint-Amour | Typically soft, fruity, and approachable wines |
Juliénas | Spicier, with earthy, full-bodied wines |
Chénas | Less common, but can produce deeply structured wines with aging potential |
Moulin-à-Vent | Known for powerful, structured wines that age well |
Fleurie | More delicate and aromatic, often with floral notes and lighter body |
Chiroubles | Light, fresh, and aromatic |
Morgon | Full-bodied wines that can age for years, developing earthy stone fruit characteristics. |
Régnié | Balanced with a fruit-forward character |
Brouilly | The largest cru, producing easy-drinking, fruity wines |
Côte de Brouilly | More structured and mineral-driven than regular Brouilly |
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