Like many great things, Beaujolais Nouveau only comes once a year. This light, bright wine is traditionally used to celebrate the end of the harvest and has only been aged for a few weeks.
“It’s a very entry level fun wine,” said Peter Nelson, an Advanced Sommelier at Monopole Wine. “Sometimes there’s even a little spritz in it,” he added.
Unlike most wines, Beaujolais Nouveau is not made to age. So it’s best to drink it as soon as you can get your hands on a bottle – most stores are getting their shipments in this week. It makes an ideal Thanksgiving wine and pairs well with tart cranberry sauce.
“It’s very juicy, tart with grapey notes, mineral flavors and the taste of dark fruits,” explained Nelson.
Enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau on its own to savor the fun, fruity notes or pair it with light fare. Nelson recommends pairing it with foods of a similar weight and texture, like white meat turkey and charcuterie – making this the ideal Thanksgiving wine.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a celebratory harvest wine, not a serious drink, Nelson added. For a more complex, aged wine he suggests Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages. The latter is only produced in ten select villages and can be more full bodied.
Celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau at Monopole Wine Friday, November 18 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and sample the best bottles around. For more details visit http://blog.monopolewine.com/?p=1563.
For a complete wine education, visit Monopole Wine at 21 South El Molino Avenue. Call (626) 577-9463. For more information, visit Monopole Wine’s blog: http://blog.monopolewine.com/?p=1474
