Decades ago, if you said "Beaujolais nouveau" in a crowded theater, you might create a panic: Half the people would be rushing to get some, while the other half would be running to get away from it.
Beaujolais nouveau, the first wine of the year from a small district in France's Burgundy, is traditionally the nearest thing to grape juice with alcohol. It arrives in late November and is best when it's all gone before New Year's Eve.
It once was cause for celebration among wine merchants because it energized the market. After a summer of cooling white wines and roses, partygoers loved this light red. You quaffed it. It appealed to people who wanted to taste Beaujolais nouveau even if they didn't care a whit about wine.
Updated: Tue Oct 03, 2023