Every year, wine lovers anticipate the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau. At the strike of midnight on the third Thursday of each November the young and light wine is released on markets around the world for the much anticipated annual celebration of a French tradition that has since been adopted in so many other countries.

“For those people who cannot visit France at this exciting time, we have brought over to Malta Bouchard Aine et Fils’ Beuajolais Nouveau,” said Clyde Attard, Marketing Manager for P. Cutajar & Co. Ltd of Mriehel. “With Beaujolais Nouveau we can make a toast to the 2008 harvest and get the first ever taste of the new vintage. The refreshing young and fruity wine is an ideal companion to a meal, and patrons can enjoy Bouchard Aine et Fils’ Beaujolais Nouveau at different restaurants around the Island.”

Beaujolais Nouveau is a light purple-pink wine with very little tannin made Gamay grapes coming from the Beaujolais AOC. The grapes are harvested by hand. The wine is ready to be drunk just 6-8 weeks after the harvest. It is usually dominated by fruity flavours such as banana and pear and is served slightly chilled. Beaujolais Nouveau is intended for immediate drinking.

The Nouveau tradition has been carried on since the 19th century when the wines were transported down the Saône River to the bistros of Lyon. Beaujolais Nouveau became a worldwide phenomenon and is today enjoyed in major cities throughout the world when the wines are released on the third Thursday of November. Millions of cases of Beaujolais Nouveau are produced annually.