BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU DAY 2020

Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day! 

This celebration occurs every year on the third Thursday of November. This day is filled with fireworks, music, dancing, and more. According to French law, the wine is released exactly at 12:01 AM, just weeks after the grapes have been harvested. This holiday occurs throughout the Beaujolais region, with about 120 Beaujolais Nouveau related festivals held. 

Beaujolais Nouveau is a unique wine that is best served chilled. It is a red wine that is fresh and fruity, due to the quick fermentation process. It is made of Gamay grapes which are handpicked in the Beaujolais province of France. This is a very drinkable wine, perfect as a table wine. It is made by using a winemaking process called carbonic maceration. This is a technique that uses the whole berry to preserve the fresh and fruity quality of the grapes along with the bitter tannins from the grape skins. 

Les Sarmentelles is the most famous festival that happens on Beaujolais Nouveau Day and is held in the town of Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region. This festival lasts for five days and features wine tasting, live music, and dancing. The festival activities include a tasting contest featuring all of the twelve kinds of Beaujolais.  The winner wins their weight in wine! The party does not wind down when the sun begins to fade. At sundown, there is a beautiful torch-lit parade that honors the farmers that made the wine. Lastly, a firework show lights up the sky at midnight mark the release of the new wine, which is then drunk until dawn! 

Photo via: https://utahstories.com/2018/11/le-beaujolais-nouveau-est-arrive/

So why the big celebration for Beaujolais Nouveau? This wine is meant to be drunk young. In fact, most vintages are meant to be consumed within 6 months of the release. Because of the quick fermentation process, Beaujolais Nouveau is one of the first wines that can be (and should be) drunk after harvested. And that is worth celebrating!

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This wine is mostly used as a delicious table wine, but can also be used for creating awesome meals. One of my favorite ways to use wine (besides drinking it) is to flavor chicken or beef. Beaujolais Nouveau is often used for Boeuf Braise au Beaujolais which is beef braised in Beaujolais. It is amazingly easy, only needing one pot or an instant pot. All you need is some time and the Beaujolais does the rest! 

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Ingredients

• 4 pounds brisket of beef, well-trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 2 cups chopped onions

• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic

• 1 pound fresh mushrooms, trimmed and cleaned

• 4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 4 cups Beaujolais wine

• 1 cup beef stock or chicken stock

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 whole cloves

• 2 whole allspice

Instructions

1. Season the beef with salt and pepper.

2. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet that is large enough to fit all of the meat in one layer. Add the beef and cook over medium heat, stirring until it is browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.

3. Transfer the pieces of meat to a heavy cast-iron kettle, add the onions, garlic, mushrooms, and thyme. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Add the flour. Stir for 1 minute or until completely combined.

4. Add the wine, beef or chicken stock, bay leaf, cloves, and allspice. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Cook, covered, over low heat for 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours, or until the meat is tender. If you are using an instant pot, cook for 1 hr. 

5. Remove bay leaf. Serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

 

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