Mark your calendars, set your alarms or just watch the clock. On November 19th, the third Thursday of November, this year's Beaujolais Nouveau is released to the world.This festive once-a-year party wine is made for anyone and everyone. Light and cherry-berry fruity, but not sweet, this is no serious swirling and sniffing wine - it's all about gulping and swigging and washing down your holiday foods. Just take a hint from the cheerful label, exclusively designed for our fun-loving customers.For such a light wine, there's a pretty heavy back story with lots of rules: The grapes used to make Beaujolais Nouveau must come from the specific region or Appellation d'origine contrôlée known as Beaujolais, which is located north of Lyon in the eastern part of France. The grapes, by law, must be harvested by hand. The wine is then made using a process called whole berry fermentation, resulting in a wine that is fruity and low in tannins.Beyond the rules, Beaujolais Nouveau provides the first taste of the year's vintage quality and is really meant to be about celebration: of the harvest, of the first revenue from a year of hard labor, and of another year past and the approaching winter holidays.Best enjoyed fresh, or before spring returns, Nouveau is a terrific compliment 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 complemented by Nouveau's grapey flavor and refreshing acidity.It's a great wine to serve at holiday parties or to pair with your Thanksgiving meal. Coming off of favorable summer weather conditions, the 2009 Nouveau is sure to deliver that characteristic red berry fruitiness. So ring in your holiday season with the Beaujolais Nouveau in your glass!
