While others agonize over selecting the perfect Thanksgiving wine, I prefer to simplify things by serving my seasonal favorite, Beaujolais Nouveau. Clearly, I'm not alone. The so-called first wine, or vin primeur, is so popular that it accounts for roughly a third of all Beaujolais production. (Incidentally, unlike other reds from France's Burgundy region, Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape, not from the Pinot Noir vinifera.) Besides, what wine would be more apropos of a harvest celebration than one produced from grapes picked within the past two months?
I should point out that Beaujolais Nouveau is not a great wine and does not improve with age. It is easy to drink, however, owing to its lack of tannins, abundance of fruit, and "just-squeezed" vinosity. Furthermore, its light body affords an ideal introduction to red wine.
According to French law, you'll have to wait till the stroke of midnight to sample this year's vintage, however. In 1985, the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine designated the third Thursday of November to be the wine's official release date. Thus, a number of wine merchants will commence their Beaujolais Nouveau tastings tomorrow.
One of the liveliest celebrations—replete with accordionist Phoebe Legere—takes place this Saturday, from 2:00 P.M. till 6:00 P.M., at Brooklyn's Red White & Bubbly. Sample wines from Georges Dubœuf as well as from Domaine Dupeuble (made without carbonic maceration; imported by Kermit Lynch). (For those unable to wait until Saturday, Red White & Bubbly will open a couple of bottles for tasting Thursday afternoon.) The tastings are free.
Red White & Bubbly
211-213 5th Avenue (near Union St), Park Slope, Brooklyn
(718) 636-WINE (9463)
Chef E, I know the French Institute/Alliance Française (FIAF) of New York held a Beaujolais Nouveau celebration this past Thursday.
You may wish to check with one of the New Jersey chapters about similar events.
The complete list of U.S. chapters can be found at: http://www.alliance-us.org/en/Directory.aspx
Posted by: Comestiblog | 23 November 2008 at 10:56 AM
We used to go to the festival held by the French Society of Dallas each year...miss that living in NJ now!
Posted by: Chef E | 23 November 2008 at 12:49 AM