Beaujolais Nouveau Day: Where to Celebrate in Philadelphia

Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé! This Thursday marks the annual release of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine from the Beaujolais region of France. The Beaujolais region is home to the Gamay grape, which is hand harvested to make the Beaujolais Nouveau and many other renowned wines from the region. The wine is fermented and bottled just a few weeks after the grapes are harvested, making the Beaujolais Nouveau a very young wine. This fruity, light bodied, and nearly tannin-less vin de primeur is best served chilled.

In 1985, a French law was passed prohibiting the wine’s release before the third Thursday in November. As a result of this, celebrating the release has become a tradition. When the clock strikes twelve, cases are shipped straight from France, and the bottles are uncorked in celebration when they arrive. Beaujolais Nouveau festivities take place all over the world, Philadelphia included! Here’s a list of some events being held around the city where you can drink a glass of this year’s vintage.
 

Beaujolais Nouveau Night
Thursday, November 20
Midtown Village
Barbuzzo, Jamonera, Vintage Wine Bar and just about every other business in and around Midtown Village’s 13th Street strip are banding together for one big Beaujolais Nouveau release celebration Thursday evening starting at 5 PM. Expect generous amounts of the wine being poured, and plenty of tasty bites to go with it. Other participants include Zavino, El Vez, Sampan, McGillin’s, Time, and Opa. 

Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Dinner
Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20; $35 ($55 with wine pairings)
Bistrot La Minette (623 S 6th St.; 215-925-8000)
Although the 2014 Beaujolais Nouveau doesn’t arrive for tasting until Thursday, Chef Peter Woolsey is offering a special four-course tasting menu on Wednesday and Thursday featuring the fine Cru Beaujolais wines, wines he says hold their own with many of the best French vintages. Dishes include Escargots a la Moutarde, five burgundy snails with dijon mustard and creme fraiche (paired with George Duboeuf, Fleurie); Œuf En Meurette, red wine poached egg, toast, bacon, and pearl onions (paired with George Duboeuf, Julienas); Coq au Vin, Burgundian red wine braised chicken, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms (paired with George Duboeuf, Morgan); Tarte de Pommes au Vin Rouge, red wine glazed apple tart, lemon creme fraiche ice cream (paired with Georges Duboeuf, Chiroubles).

Beaujolais Nouveau Tasting
Thursday, November 20, $7
Tria Cafe (123 S 18th St; 1137 Spruce St)
Tria Cafe’s locations near Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square West will be the pouring Beaujolais Nouveau and two other Beaujolais wines. They will begin uncorking it as soon as it arrives, and continue pouring it until every bottle is empty. All day and all night, it will be available at the discounted price of $7 a glass.