The season when Beaujolais Nouveau arrives in Japan is fast approaching again this year!
This time, we will introduce some interesting facts about Beaujolais Nouveau and some lesser known new wines (Nouveau) from around the world!
First of all, what does "Nouveau" mean?
"Nouveau" means "new" in French, and in the world of wine it refers to "new wine made from grapes harvested that year ." In other words, Beaujolais Nouveau is the "new wine" from the French wine region of Beaujolais.
You can enjoy the fresh and fruity aroma and taste.
By the way, since New Zealand is a country located in the Southern Hemisphere, grapes are harvested in the local autumn, which is between February and April. The wine made from those grapes then arrives in the summer in countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, as "New Zealand Nouveau."
Since NZ is a country in the Southern Hemisphere, the goods are delivered early in the Northern Hemisphere's summer. (More details will be provided later in this article.)
So let's start by giving you some basic information about Beaujolais Nouveau!
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Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
When will Beaujolais Nouveau be released in 2023?
Beaujolais Nouveau is released to restaurants at midnight on the third Thursday of November every year. This year (2022), the release date is November 16th .
By the way, "Beaujolais" is sometimes written as "Beaujolais" depending on the importer or store.
A catchphrase that reflects the year's performance
Every year, Beaujolais Nouveau attracts attention for its "catchphrase."
I didn't know there was a catchphrase!
In fact, there are two different catchphrases for Beaujolais Nouveau.
One is a Japanese translation of the Beaujolais Wine Committee 's evaluation, and the other is a catchy translation by a Japanese wine company for sales promotion purposes.
This year's (2023) tagline has not yet been announced, but we will update the article as soon as it is announced.
By the way, according to Suntory, one of the importers,
"It tastes like you've put freshly picked red fruit straight into your mouth."
Source: First shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau arrives at Haneda for the third consecutive year on ANA flights, 3.2 tons
That's what they say.
Regarding last year's (2022) Beaujolais, the Beaujolais Wine Committee said,
A sun-kissed vintage - the perfect balance of fruit and structure
Source: Beaujolais Wine Committee
This was expressed as follows.
However, it was not just a "year blessed with sunshine";
The 2022 Beaujolais vintage was a tough one for producers right up until the end of the nearly month-long harvest, with particularly drastic weather changes from early spring to summer.
Source: Beaujolais Wine Committee
As mentioned above, the weather was sunny until May, but in June there were many rainy days and some areas were hit by thunderstorms and hail. In addition, the summer was hit by heat waves and severe dryness, making it a difficult year for producers.
Hail and heat waves have caused this year's Beaujolais grape harvest to be significantly lower than usual, but Daniel Brillat, president of the Beaujolais Wine Committee, said:
The 2022 vintage will be special, with similarities to the great years 2009, 2015, 2018 and 2020. This vintage shows great variety: some wines are full-bodied, well-structured, with striking colour and ripe for aging, while others are fresh, pleasantly fleshy and easy to drink.
Source: Beaujolais Wine Committee
He spoke highly of last year's vintage.
Last year's catchphrase announced by Suntory was
The taste is like a mouthful of sweet and sour red berry or strawberry jam.
Source: Aviation Wire
It was.
The official taglines for the past 20 years up to 2021 are as follows:
| year | Catchphrase |
|---|---|
| 2001 | The best in the last 10 years |
| 2002 | Good color and solid body |
| 2003 | An exceptional year |
| 2004 | A year in which producers' capabilities are revealed |
| 2005 | One of the great years like '59, '64 and '76 |
| 2006 | A very successful year |
| 2007 | Fruity and elegant |
| 2008 | Fruit, fruit, fruit |
| 2009 | Limited quantities, perfect quality. An exceptional year |
| 2010 | Fruity, smooth and well-balanced |
| 2011 | Three years in a row of great quality |
| 2012 | Pleasant and aromatic with great subtlety and complexity. |
| 2013 | Delicate and well-structured. Beautiful and complex aromas. |
| 2014 | Elegant, tasty and very well balanced |
| 2015 | A memorable and wonderful performance |
| 2016 | An elegant and seductive wine |
| 2017 | Rich, cheerful, silky smooth, yet fresh and brilliant. |
| 2018 | This vintage will go down in history as one of the great vintages alongside 2017, 2015 and 2009. |
| 2019 | A promising year, but producers' technique will be crucial |
| 2020 | Very well balanced and refreshing finish |
| 2021 | After many challenges, we finally arrived at a satisfying nouveau |
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a type of wine made from Gamay grapes harvested in the Beaujolais region in southern Burgundy, France.
When you think of Beaujolais Nouveau, you may think of red wine, but there is also a rosé wine available.
How is Beaujolais Nouveau made?
Beaujolais Nouveau is brewed using a method called carbonic maceration, or carbon dioxide infusion .
It would be difficult to explain in detail, so I'll just give a brief explanation here.
Generally, winemaking starts with removing the stems and crushing the grapes, but in carbonic maceration, the grapes are put into a sealed tank in bunches to make wine. Because the grapes are stacked, the weight of the grapes breaks the skins of the grapes at the bottom, and fermentation begins. When this happens, carbon dioxide is produced, and the grapes on top that are not crushed also naturally ferment.
Normally, when making red wine, there is a process called "maceration" in which the skins and seeds are soaked in fruit juice, during which the bitter components called tannins are transferred to the juice. However, with carbonic maceration, this process is not performed, and the result is a lighter taste with less astringency.
Another feature is that fermentation is not done by yeast, but by enzymes in the grape cells. During this process, malic acid is broken down, resulting in a light, mild taste.
And because it allows wine to be made in a shorter time than usual, it is often used as a method for making new wine.
The new wine produced using this method directly reflects the quality of the grapes that year.
Therefore, when Beaujolais Nouveau is delicious, expectations for the wines from southern Burgundy that year also rise.
Fun facts about Beaujolais' release date
It is widely known that Beaujolais Nouveau has a release date. However, it is surprisingly unknown why such a rule was created. Here, we will briefly explain the background to the rule.
Originally, Beaujolais Nouveau was a local drink drunk at the harvest festival in the Beaujolais region, but its popularity gradually spread to countries around the world.
But with that sudden surge in popularity came problems.
What is the problem?!
An increasing number of wine producers are trying to ship and sell their wine as quickly as possible, which has resulted in low-quality wine being sold.
Therefore, a release date was established as a measure to protect the quality of Beaujolais Nouveau.
In 1967, the French government officially set the release date as November 15. Although setting a release date stabilized the quality of the wine, another problem arose.
In France, where many companies take days off on weekends and public holidays, even if a wine-opening day was set, in years when that day fell on a weekend or public holiday, it was often impossible to transport or sell wine. In order to solve this problem, the wine-opening day was set as the current "third Thursday in November" in 1985.
By the way, the person who is known to have sparked its popularity is Georges Duboeuf, a winery owner in the Beaujolais region. He promoted Beaujolais Nouveau, which was previously just a local alcoholic drink, as an attractive wine throughout France and even expanded its promotion to the world.
Japan is the largest exporter of Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau is a major wine event in Japan, but is this the same around the world?
In fact, Japan has been the top export destination for Beaujolais Nouveau for many years.
More than half of the Beaujolais Nouveau produced is shipped to Japan, meaning that Japan is the country where Beaujolais is most popular .
So why has it become so popular in Japan? It has to do with the fact that Japan is close to the International Date Line, meaning that people can drink Beaujolais about eight hours earlier than in France, where it originates.
The catchphrase "You can drink Beaujolais the earliest!" was well received by Japanese people who love new things, and it was a big hit in Japan during the bubble era. Even people who don't usually drink wine would drink Beaujolais Nouveau at least once a year, and it became a seasonal item.
Currently, the amount of Beaujolais Nouveau shipped to Japan is about half of what it was at its peak, but there are still some stores that stock only Beaujolais Nouveau, even if they don't focus particularly on wine, so I think it's fair to say that it still plays a vital role as an autumn symbol.
Wow! So Japan is the top export destination for Beaujolais Nouveau! I didn't know that before.
That's right. It seems that its popularity has calmed down considerably compared to a while ago, but Beaujolais Nouveau is still an indispensable item in November, a month when there aren't many notable events for restaurants.
Recently, there have been attempts to get young people to drink Beaujolais casually, using the term "Bojopa" (Beaujolais party).
What is "Beaujolais Primeur"?
There is another wine called "Beaujolais primeur" that has almost the same meaning as Beaujolais Nouveau.
We are gradually seeing more and more products labeled "primeur," so let me provide a brief explanation of this as well.
"En Primeur" means "first" or "first" in French, and is a wine term.
- "(Wine) Futures Trading "
- " Nouveau (new wine) "
It is used in two senses.
The former "en primeur" refers to a wine sales system used in the Bordeaux region, which is a futures contract that allows pre-purchase of wine that is aging before bottling, while in the case of Beaujolais wines, it is mostly used to mean the latter "nouveau" (new wine).
In other words , "Beaujolais Primeur" is synonymous with Beaujolais Nouveau .
By the way, some of the wines actually sold are labeled as "Village," such as Beaujolais "Village" Nouveau.
This means that the wine is made from grapes from a special region that is allowed to use the name Village. You can think of it as a "top-class limited edition wine."
Recommended pairings
Thank you for the detailed explanation of Beaujolais! Can you also tell me some recommended pairings that go well with Beaujolais?
Of course!
Beaujolais Nouveau is relatively light and has a fresh acidity, so it tends to go well with meals that are not too rich and have just the right amount of acidity.
In Japanese cuisine,
- Pork shabu-shabu with plum sauce
- Chicken and Maitake mushroom stir-fried with ponzu sauce
- Sweet potato simmered in soy sauce (finished with balsamic vinegar)
We recommend the following:
And if you want Western food,
- Prosciutto + dried fruit
- Pasta with tomato sauce
- Grilled chicken in vinegar sauce
I think it's a perfect match.
Surprisingly, the combination of "savory grilled blue fish + soy sauce," such as in "grilled mackerel sushi ," also goes well with the fresh fruitiness of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Please give it a try!
European new wines other than Beaujolais Nouveau
Let's start with new wines from Europe.
France (excluding Beaujolais)
In addition to Beaujolais, there are many other regions in France that produce new wine, and each new wine is made according to strict rules.
A famous new French wine available in Japan other than Beaujolais is Nouveau, made from Chardonnay from the Mâcon region, centered around the city of Mâcon.
These detailed rules regarding production areas and grape varieties are a characteristic of French wines, not just Nouveau. These detailed rules help preserve the characteristics and quality of the wine producing areas, and also make it easier to compare vintages.
Italy: "Novello"
The Italian restaurant Novello will be open on October 30th , the day before Halloween.
What's unique about this Italian new wine is that there are only some rough rules and no restrictions on the region or grape variety (the minimum rule is that it must contain at least 40% wine made using carbonic maceration). In other words, unlike French Nouveau, Novello is a new wine with a high degree of freedom that allows you to enjoy the diversity of regions and varieties.
Novello is released the day before Halloween!
That's right. If you have a Halloween party at home, having some new sake will surely lift your spirits.
By the way, roasted chestnuts are a standard snack that locals enjoy with this Novello!
In Italy, the same "Novello" can also refer to "extra virgin oil" made from the first olives harvested this year. This olive oil Nouveau, which goes on sale from late October, is becoming popular in Japan as well.
▶ "Novello Olive Oil" Rakuten Market
Austria: "Heuriger"
In Austria , the famous new wine is called "Heuriger" . It is released on November 11th, the day of the harvest festival "St. Martin's Day", and it can be sold as Heuriger for up to one year from that day.
The standard style of Heuriger is to drink it from a mug or cup, rather than a wine glass.
"Heuriger" has two meanings: "new wine" and "wine izakaya." Originally, farmers served their homemade new wine along with snacks, and the term evolved to mean "a place that serves Heuriger (new wine)" = "Heuriger (izakaya)."
In some modern-day Heurigen (taverns), you can enjoy traditional Viennese music called "Schrammel," played on violins and accordions, along with home-made wine.
It's surprising to see people drinking wine from mugs! It's great to be able to enjoy new wine in a relaxed atmosphere.
Once this Heuriger (new wine) is completed, a bundle of small branches of fir or other trees is hung from the eaves of the shop, just like the cedar balls that sake breweries hang.
This fir tree is a sign that new wine is ready.
Other new wines
Germany: "Der neue"
The new wine ban in Germany begins on November 1st. There are red, white and rosé varieties, but white wine is the most popular.
Many of these wines are made from the Muller-Thurgau grapes, which are harvested early. Their flavors range from dry to slightly sweet.
Spain: "Vino nuevo"
The ban will be lifted on November 11th, which is St. Martin's Day, just like in Austria.
The main type of wine is red wine made from Tempranillo. To mark this day, festivals are held all over the country.
Japanese new sake "Yamanashi Nouveau"
In fact, there is a wine called Nouveau in Japan as well.
A representative example is Yamanashi Nouveau .
Yamanashi Nouveau is a new wine designated by the Yamanashi Prefecture Wine Brewing Association, an association of wine brewers in Yamanashi Prefecture. Only new wine made from Koshu and Muscat Bailey A grapes harvested and brewed in Yamanashi Prefecture is called Yamanashi Nouveau, and the voluntary release date is set for November 3rd .
By the way, although it is not "Yamanashi Nouveau," there is also a slightly unusual new wine called "Nouveau" made by "Domaine Q" in Yamanashi.
This is a limited-edition wine made from "Blue Delaware," or "not-yet-fully-ripe Delaware," harvested in early summer and released around the end of July.
The lively acidity and fruity flavor are very refreshing. I also love "Nou Nouveau"!
▶ "Yamanashi Nouveau" Rakuten Ichiba
▶ "Delaware Nou Nouveau" Domaine Q (reservation/purchase) page
"New Zealand Nouveau" is the first new wine in the world to be available!
If you can't wait until the autumn new wines are released, we recommend New Zealand Nouveau .
Normally, it takes a certain amount of time for grapes to be harvested and then turned into wine, so in order to drink wine made in the Northern Hemisphere in the same year in the Northern Hemisphere, a special "early brewing" method is required.
However, if you want to drink wine made in the Southern Hemisphere in the Northern Hemisphere, you can take advantage of the seasonal differences between the north and south and drink wine made from grapes from that year using normal production methods.
In New Zealand, located in the southern hemisphere, grape harvest peaks between February and April. Although there are no special rules regarding the release date, every summer several wineries start selling products for Nouveau.
The wines sold as Nouveau are mainly Sauvignon Blanc , New Zealand's representative grape variety. Some producers also make Nouveau using Pinot Noir, the representative red wine grape variety.
Sauvignon Blanc is characterized by its bursting fruitiness, such as passion fruit and tropical fruits, and its refreshing, sharp acidity.
This Nouveau has a fresh fruity flavor and a light taste, making it perfect for outdoor use in the summer .
Nouveau is perfect for summer!
I want to take it on a picnic or camping trip.
If you would like to know more about New Zealand Nouveau, please see the article below.
▶ New Zealand Nouveau sales start in 2022! Get the latest information
New Zealand Nouveau available in Japan includes "Villa Maria" and "Sileni" (as of 2022).
*We will update this article as soon as we know more about this year's Nouveau. The wine information below is about the 2022 Nouveau.
Villa Maria
Villa Maria has received high praise both from within Japan and overseas, and is popular in Japan as well.
Only one type of Sauvignon Blanc is sold as Nouveau.
Villa Maria produces consistently delicious wines every year. This Nouveau is made from grapes harvested at the beginning of the season.
The unique Marlborough aroma of popping citrus and tropical fruits is irresistible!
▶ [Bokumo Wine] Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2022 sales page
*The 2022 Nouveau is no longer on sale.
Sileni Estates
"Sileni" is one of the New Zealand wines imported into Japan in terms of volume.
Sileni sells two types of Nouveau: Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir .
Image source: Enoteca Online
Sileni is often seen on the shelves of Enoteca. Nouveau is only available for a limited time, so if you come across it, be sure to pick it up.
Both the white and red are light and go down easy.
This year, let's enjoy not only Beaujolais but also new wines from around the world!
This time we talked about Beaujolais Nouveau and new wines from around the world.
This year too, it is still not easy to travel abroad, but if you have access to wines from around the world, you might be able to think about the background of the wine and get a little taste of traveling.
In addition, new wines made from grapes that have just been harvested have a light taste and go well with home cooking. Why not try incorporating "new wines from around the world" as one of the items to make your time at home more enjoyable during this season?
