What brings good cheer and gets along with everyone and goes with everything on the table? Beaujolais Nouveau, of course! With its cherry-berry fruitiness, this nimble wine goes down easy and is revered as the perfect sidekick to the myriad of flavors on your holiday table. Beaujolais Nouveau is made from Gamay Noir grapes, which come from the southernmost part of Burgundy, France.
For decades, the third Thursday of November is the first day where the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau opens in a new tab kicks off the holiday season with an all-out celebration. Beyond the first taste of the year’s quality, Nouveau is more about celebration — celebration of the harvest, celebration of the first revenue from a year of hard labor, and celebration of the start of the holiday season.This fresh, playful, once-a-year party wine is all about sharing. Light, fruity (but not sweet) berry flavors are the very definition of easy drinking — making it just right for holiday celebrations.
Best enjoyed right away, or at least before spring returns, Nouveau is a terrific complement to the rich, earthy and spicy flavors that come across the holiday table. The crazy complex flavors of roasts, game, mushrooms, squash, root vegetables and flavorings such as sage, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, peppers, and the like are perfectly balanced by the wine’s grapey flavor and refreshing acidity.Here are a few holiday appetizers I plan on pairing with this year’s vintage:Brie Toasts with Spiced Sundried Tomato Compote opens in a new tab
Cranberry-Orange Braised Beef on Ciabatta opens in a new tabMini Crab Cakes with Spicy Red Pepper Sauce opens in a new tabShiitake Ragoût on Chèvre Crostini opens in a new tabFor more appetizer recipes and entertaining inspiration check out our holiday hub opens in a new tab!And be sure to pick up a few bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau – your holiday guests will thank you for it! Find it in these stores opens in a new tab on November 17th.What’s your favorite thing to pair with Beaujolais Nouveau?
