Beaujolais Nouveau Féte – New Beaujolais Festival

Beaujolais Nouveau Féte – New Beaujolais Festival 

France is a country that loves celebrating all things good that can be eaten or drunk. Dedicated festivals, national occasions and celebrations keep traditions alive in France, just like the Beaujolais Nouveau Féte (New Beaujolais Festival).

The New Beaujolais Festival is celebrated throughout France on the third Thursday in November every year, the date when wine-making finishes and the new wine can be sold. This fruity new wine is eagerly awaited by wine-lovers across France, with gatherings at local stores and vineyards and when the cry goes out le beaujolais nouveau est arrivé! (the new Beaujolais has arrived) it is a happy scene at the bottle shop. 

I am not a wine connoisseur to be honest, but this is an exciting time to be at your cave à vins (wine shop) in France with the extra products on sale, wine tastings and often late night openings.  We normally head up to Cave à Vins or V & B Guingamp, two speciality wine shops in our local town.

A Very French Wine Festival

There are many organised events in the Beaujolais area, which has numerous vineyards extending over an area of approximately 22,500 hectares. Some celebrations often go for days.

“The new Beaujolais is traditionally launched in Beaujeu, where a procession of barrels filled with flaming vine shoots takes place and then when the clock strikes midnight (I love a bit of theatre and drama) the first barrels are drilled into. Producers and wine-growers then open the doors to their cellars and vaults until late at night.” – France Voyage

Restaurants also create menus around the theme of Beaujolais, and many villages celebrate and take the opportunity to offer artisan products at their events.

Beaujolais Nouveau Féte is just one of the celebration days taken seriously in France and celebrated globally by Francophiles. To find out all the national celebration days of France check out our Calendar of French Public Holidays and National Celebration Days.

Read more about the wine at Discover Beaujolais and more about the region of Beaujolais at Beaujolais Vignoble.