Special feature on wine producing regions: "Beaujolais"
About Beaujolais wine
Beaujolais is a hilly region located in the northeastern part of the Massif Central in France, north of Lyon, and is also a region of Burgundy.
The northern part of the region has soils of schist and granite, while the southern part has soils of limestone and clay-limestone, and more than 90% of the wine produced is red wine made from the Gamay variety.
Red wine made from Gamay is delicate and light, and is pleasant to drink. In Japan, it is released on the third Thursday of November every year. Beaujolais Nouveau , made from grapes harvested that year, is famous.
Originally, this region did not receive much attention within France, but in the 1970s, major merchants began promoting Beaujolais Nouveau as "the wine to drink that year," and this marketing was a huge success, leading to the region becoming known around the world.
As the Beaujolais region has begun to attract attention as a wine-producing region, organic grape cultivation has become more common, and the number of organic wine farms has increased from just three in the 1980s to more than 100 today .
- Beaujolais wine highlights
- How to enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau
- Beaujolais Wine Producers of Mavi
- Enjoy Beaujolais wine and gourmet food
Beaujolais wine highlights
90% of the wine produced in Beaujolais is red wine made with Gamay . Among them, the most famous is " Beaujolais Nouveau ", which is made from grapes harvested in the same year and is meant to be drunk early.
2. Aged Beaujolais wineIn Beaujolais, not only new wines are produced, but also aged wines. The 10 districts that produce particularly excellent wines are called " Cru Beaujolais ".
3. Isn't Beaujolais Nouveau delicious?As Beaujolais Nouveau became more famous, there was a time when people said that "Beaujolais Nouveau is not tasty." We will look into the reasons for this.
4. The appeal of Beaujolais NouveauBeaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November. We will introduce you to its charms and how to enjoy it.
- 1. Red wine made with Gamay
- 2. Aged Beaujolais wine
- 3. Isn't Beaujolais Nouveau delicious?
- 4. The appeal of Beaujolais Nouveau
1. Red wine made with Gamay
Gamay red wine, which accounts for 90% of the wine produced in Beaujolais, is characterized by its light and fruity taste. It had a period of misfortune, such as the "Gamay Ban" issued by King Philip II, who disliked Gamay, in 1395, but the granite of Beaujolais is suitable for Gamay, and its appeal has been rediscovered with the rise of Beaujolais Nouveau and other wines.
2. Aged Beaujolais wine
The 10 areas in the northern part of Beaujolais where particularly high quality wines are produced are called "Cru (Premier Cru) Beaujolais." Mavi's Rampon has a farm in one of these areas, the village of Reignier, where he produces wines suitable for aging.
3. Isn't Beaujolais Nouveau delicious?
While Beaujolais Nouveau has been gaining popularity in Japan since the 1980s, there was a time when people said that "Beaujolais Nouveau is not tasty."
Nouveau means "new" in French, and Beaujolais Nouveau, as its name suggests, refers to "new wine from the Beaujolais region," that is, new wine made from grapes harvested that year .
Beaujolais Nouveau, which was successfully marketed in France, has attracted attention from all over the world, and has created a particularly strong buzz in Japan, where it can be released the earliest due to the time difference.
Around the 1980s, events were held all over Japan to celebrate the lifting of the ban on Beaujolais Nouveau.
However, the increased demand also had a negative impact on Beaujolais Nouveau. In the race to produce wine quickly, some wines were shipped that were not yet fully finished , and a large amount of industrial Beaujolais Nouveau was sold on the market, with the sole selling point being its low price.
Beaujolais Nouveau's reputation has fallen due to these factors, but producers who do not approve of industrial production are producing small-scale versions of high-quality, enjoyable Beaujolais Nouveau, and in recent years there has been a growing movement to reevaluate this type of wine.
Even if you don't usually drink much wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is easy to pick up. It would be a real shame to miss out on this wonderful opportunity and end up with a bad impression because you didn't find a good wine.
The carefully crafted Beaujolais Nouveau has a pure and gentle taste that is perfect for toasting. Why not try some fresh Beaujolais Nouveau this year?
4. The appeal of Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau is not too heavy and has a light and lovely taste, making it perfect as a simple snack or with Japanese food. It can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as at casual get-togethers with friends, at the family dinner table, or on picnics.
Gamay also pairs well with autumn flavors such as root vegetables and mushrooms.
Please prepare dishes using seasonal ingredients and enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau.
How to enjoy Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November. Here we will introduce how it is made and how to enjoy it.
Beaujolais Trivia
harvest
All grapes for Beaujolais Nouveau are hand-picked. The harvest time varies depending on the weather of the year, but it usually takes place from early to late September. In recent years, due to the effects of global warming, there have been many years with high temperatures, and the harvest tends to be earlier.
brewing
Beaujolais winemaking is unique in that it involves the process of maceration, which is the process used to extract flavor and color from the grapes . There are three main methods used for maceration:
Among them, Mavi's producers
-
Semi-carbonic maceration (this is how Mavi's Beaujolais Nouveau is made)
This is a traditional method that was mainstream until around the 1960s. It brings out the original flavor of Beaujolais, but it cannot be mass-produced, and the long soaking period means there is a risk of spoilage if the technique is not used, so few wineries use it. The grapes are placed in a fully covered tank with each bunch, and soaked in carbon dioxide naturally produced by fermentation for 5 to 6 days (maximum 7 days) at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. This brings out the fresh fruitiness and smoothness of the Gamay grapes. -
Carbonic maceration
This is the general method of making Beaujolais Nouveau. The grapes are placed in a tank filled with carbon dioxide from a cylinder, completely covered, and left to soak for 2-3 days without any air. The carbon dioxide concentration increases quickly, making it easier for the color and aroma to develop and the wine is finished quickly. -
Maceration Ashaud
Chaud = "heat" in French. Grapes are placed in a tank with bunches and heated with steam at a high temperature of 60-70℃ for 30 minutes. Since the natural yeast in the grapes dies, yeast is artificially added for fermentation. The wine can be produced in a short time because the skin cells are destroyed and the pigment is extracted.
From the left: When the time comes, volunteers hand-harvest the grapes, an old-fashioned press, and the fermentation process
Recommended way to drink
To enjoy the fresh fruit flavor of Beaujolais wine, it is recommended to lightly chill it in the refrigerator for about an hour before drinking .
You can enjoy the delicate flavors of Beaujolais even more when paired with lighter foods such as vegetables, mushrooms, and white meat.
Chevron's wines have a mineral feel, clean acidity, and a hint of spice, so they go well with dishes such as roast chicken flavored with curry powder.
Lampon's wines are full of subtle flavor and are best paired with ingredients that have an earthy aroma, such as mushrooms and root vegetables.
(Extra!? We'll tell you secretly some more tips recommended by our staff)
It is usually said that Nouveau is best drunk quickly, but Mavi Nouveau is carefully made over a period of time, so we encourage you to enjoy the changes that occur!
Since it's a cold season, you don't need to put it in the cellar. In addition to the bottle you will drink on the opening day, try storing one bottle in a storage room or hallway that is not heated until around the New Year, two months later .
If you try it during the New Year period, you will find that the freshness of the grapes will give it a slightly different impression. Some of the staff at Mavi even prefer this version!
From left: A meal at the Chevrans' house, their specialty sausages cooked in a grape casserole, and a painting in Mr. Rampon's cellar.
Beaujolais Wine Producers of Mavi
The Rampon Family/Beaujolais, France
Andre Lampon
There is a region called Reignier, located slightly north of the center of the Beaujolais region (France), famous for Beaujolais Nouveau. According to André Rampon, the owner of the Domaine, the area is 350 meters above sea level, has a mild temperature, and has beautiful valley scenery, making it a popular destination for tourists.
Domaine André Rampon's vineyard is only 3 hectares in size (1 hectare = 100m x 100m). Small... Mr. Rampon purchased this vineyard in 1977 and has been farming organically since 1983. He was born into a farming family that has been in business for five generations, and he himself has been involved in farming since 1970. His wife also helps out when necessary.
Please try this delicious wine, which you can feel the kindness of Mr. Lampon, who loves the fields and nature, as he makes it by hand.
>> See the list of Lampon family wines
Chevran Family/Beaujolais, France
Domaine Cle de Vine
The Chevran family's domaine is located about 35km west of Lyon city center, in the hills at the southwestern edge of the Beaujolais region, overlooking the 1,000m-high Lyonnais Mountains to the south and beautiful villages lined with buildings made of ochre-colored limestone, earning the area the nickname "the land of golden stone" to the north.
The previous owner, François, was a former professor at an agricultural school. After being impressed by the wines of a friend who practiced biodynamic farming, he decided to switch to organic farming in 2008 and pursued winemaking that makes the most of the terroir. His daughter Florence and cousin Geoffroy have now taken over and are also practicing biodynamic farming.
In 2018, they opened a new winery using environmentally friendly building materials, aiming to create wines that convey the charm of Gamay to everyone.
>>See the list of Chevran family wines
Enjoy Beaujolais wine and gourmet food
Lyon, located close to the city of Beaujolais, is also known as a city of fine cuisine, and you can enjoy casual local cuisine at bistros called bouchons.
Lyon is famous for its sausages, and there is a specialty dish called Sabaude au Vent, which is made by stewing the sausages in grape caramel that has been fermented for wine. Other famous dishes include quenelles made with minced fish and salade Lyonnaise with poached eggs.
Beaujolais wine goes well with casual home cooking, so be sure to try it with a variety of dishes.
We also have recipes that go well with Beaujolais Nouveau !
↑ Top of page ｜ Search for products ｜ Featured items ｜ MAVI mail order TOP
Back to Recommended Features