Beaujolais Nouveau

For wine-lovers around the world, the third Thursday in November is an exciting day; it marks the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau.

Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine produced in the Beaujolais region of France.

What makes Beaujolais different from other wines is that it should be consumed when it is very young. While many wines are aged for months or even years before attaining their optimal taste, Beaujolais Nouveau is only aged for a few weeks. As a result, the wine doesn't develop the tannins that many other red wines contain. This makes the wine light and fruity.

Personally, I wouldn't refuse a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau (you know me!), but it's not my favorite red. However, if you can find some crème de framboise, a rich raspberry liqueur, you can make a tasty "Cardinal". It's a kind of kir, but with red wine instead of white.



How to make a Cardinal:

1. pour a little crème de framboise into a wine glass


2. add red wine to fill the glass

*Really specific, I know ... ;) If you want more precise instructions, the International Bartenders' Association says to do a 1:9 ratio.

*And if you really want to nit-pick, the real recipe calls for crème de cassis ... but I prefer it with raspberry.



So are you excited about the Beaujolais Nouveau? I thought you would be. If you want to try it for yourself, those of you in America (who are 21 or older, of course!) should look for Georges DuBoeuf, as it's the most widely available in the States. But remember ... it should be consumed right away! Be sure to check that it's a 2008, and don't stash it in your wine rack. It's going to be a cold weekend in much of the US, so grab a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau and stay warm.