Beaujolais is more than just a wine. It is a beautiful area full of architectural delights, rolling hills and vineyards and is within easy driving distance of Lyon.
Image from Wikipedia
Often mocked for its inferior quality wine, the Beaujolais is a beautiful region and does actually have some perfectly nice drinking wines.
Did you know that white Beaujolais wines can sometimes qualify for the renowned Burgundy appellation? Some of the white wines are that good that people will happily drink them believing them to be Burgundy when in fact they are just good old Beaujolais!
Aside from the wine, what I love most about the Beaujolais is the community spirit and the scenery.
Old houses are often built from a remarkable golden stone and when the sun catches the stone it actually looks as if they are made from gold. Property is quite expensive there due to its proximity to Lyon which is a shame as it means that it is an area that many tourists or foreign property hunters ignore.
Some of Mr Piglet’s family have lived in the Beaujolais for years and Mr Piglet even lived there himself for a while.
My first initiation with Beaujolais life was whilst celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau on the third Thursday of November. We had been invited by Mr Piglet’s uncle who is a part time winemaker for the unveiling of his Beaujolais Nouveau. Mr Piglet didn’t give me any forewarning that the wine tasting would turn into an all night party!
The Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!
After tasting his wine, we were carted off to the neighbours to taste their wine and so it went on. On foot we trekked from house to house and Mr Piglet was running wild buying bottles and bottles of all different wines wherever we went promising to stop by the next day to collect. I realized that Mr Piglet who was supposed to be driving was definitely over the limit so begged his Aunt to let us stay the night.
Worse for wear...
What I liked most about it was that it wasn’t youngsters running amok whilst drunk like you would expect in the UK maybe. The atmosphere was jovial and youngsters, families and the old of age were all mixing together, socializing and enjoying some good old plonk, saucisson soaked in wine and various other specialties.
Party in the cellar
All in all the Beaujolais has a lot to offer and is definitely worth checking out. Maybe I’ll chose to share some of my other stories about time spent there soon…
Hi Piglet! Great expression of the Beaujolais wine with a personal touch! This could easily be published in a travel mag! Thanks for sharing! I must visit the region sometime soon. x
Thank you! That’s a really lovely comment, very kind Grenobloise! I would love to think that some of my writing could be published but hey, I’m just a dreamer… Do go to the Beaujolais, it’s not far and it’s truly wonderful.
Wasn’t the Beaujolais region where Clochemerle was set?
Yes! It explains an awful lot about life in France…valid today!
Clochemerle-en-Beajolais indeed, I’m on chapter 5
Mark, do let me know if you’d recommend it as I’m always looking for a good read but my time is so scarce.
That sounds like the way to celebrate the arrival of the Nouveau Beaujolais. We have a special evening in November to celebrate at our Bistro Des Copains in Northern CA but it definitely doesn’t compare to your celebration in the Beaujolais. While the Nouveau is generally nothing too special I think some of the Crus are very good, especially those from Morgon and Fleurie IMO.
I agree with you 100% on the Cru’s Michel, I wish people wouldn’t just turn their nose up on them because of the Beaujolais name
I am sure you’re celebrations at the Bistrot are wonderful! Do you manage to get Beaujolais Nouveau shipped in on time? I think they’ve relaxed the regulations on shipping a bit now though haven’t they? I remember having to arrange a driver to drive 200 bottles to the French CCI in London once, couldn’t get it passed customs before!
Hi Piglet! Sounds like a wonderful trip to Beaujolais and a great description of the region – my heart is certainly in the Beaujolais hills! In case you’re interested Nouveau is now released to the wine trade a week before the official release date with an undertaking that it would be released commercially until the third Thursday – so the competition has really been taken out of the race!
Sounds like you had a perfectly marvelous time. I don’t know the region of Lyon at all. I’ve been to Lyon only one time and it was for 1/2 a day so I didn’t get to see much. Thanks for the insight into this area and the real secret to the wine there
Ashley