I will be in Paris with a friend for the release of the new wine. Any special place to be? Your experience?

HI
I don't have any experience with it in France, but keep in mind that this is mostly a marketing techniqure aimed at American consumers. The wine is considered by most in the know, both in the USA and France, to be too young, thin, and puckery, and to the extent that I know wine myself (far from expert), I agree. I would be surprised if this is a big deal in Paris.

I'm no wine expert, but don't usually like simple fruity wines -- however, I thought the BN last year was pretty taste, actually.

It is kind of a big deal in France -- at least, more than in the US. If you are there, I'm sure you'll see signs in some wine bars, etc., that may be having special events or celebrations -- at least, you'll know those are the ones where people will hang out. Any good wine bar would probably do, like Juveniles on rue de Richelieu, Sancerre on av Rapp or the Clown Bar in the 11th.

As I said, I'm surprised, but I stand corrected

There's a big wine festival in Montmartre every year to celebrate the BN harvest from the Montmartre vineyard. There are wine tastings and I think one of those races with waiters carrying trays with full glasses of wine on them - should be a fun place to be for the celebration.

Wine from the Montmartre vineyard would hardly be Beaujolais Nouveau would it?

A couple of years ago I realized I would be in Paris for Beujolais Nouveau Day and asked on this board, I think, if there was any special place to go. I didn't get a specific recommendation, which turned out to be just fine -- since most restaurants that I visited specially featured beaujolais nouveau.

Of course, it's true -- beaujolais nouveau is light, drinkable & not at all serious -- great for a casual lunch.

laverendrye:

Don't know - you'd have to ask the Parisian vintners. As long as they're using the Gamay grape, I think it qualifies. It's not as though BN is an AOC product.
At any rate, the festival is reputed to be great fun.

I am going to be in Paris that same week and was wondering what it would be like.

My friend from Marsailles tells me its an big day of drinking lousey wine where everyone hets drunk and is sick the next day. Such Fun!

Oops! The Montmartre Wine Festival is already over for this year - maybe it's no longer associated with BN (or maybe it never was and I'm losing my marbles).

But THIS looks interesting (and it IS in November):

Salon du Chocolat, Paris
This year is the tenth edition of this festival that has over 150 European and International chocolate makers showing their craft. This year the festival welcomes makers from Russia, Japan, Italy, and Venezuela. At the festival there will be awards as to the best chocolate maker in the world. Definitely worth a visit

Maybe this will correct some of the misinformation being posted:

http://www.intowine.com/beaujolaisnouveaufacts.html

gomiki: We were in Aix-en-Provence a few years ago on the third Thursday in November which corresponded with the release of Beaujolais Nouveau that year. Prior to being there on that day, I wrongly assumed the release day was nothing but a world-wide marketing ploy aimed primarily at the North American consumer. Was I ever wrong! They had stands set up on most street corners from which they were selling bottles of the newly-released wine and every restaurant offered it as a special that day. At lunch, the restaurants were jammed and my wife and I went through almost two bottles of the stuff. While not great, it is certainly drinkable, the price was right and it created a memorable (and surprisingly headache-free) day for us. Upon our return to Paris a few days later, we noticed stands still set up on the street from which they continued selling the vintage and signs hanging outside numerous bistros announcing the arrival of that year's Beaujolais Nouveau. Just keep your eyes open while in Paris and I'm certain you'll find lots of opportunities to sample this year's product. Have fun. Wish we could join you!

Hi
the Montmartre vintage festival is the first Saturday in October or at least very early October, and is unrelated to the BN day in November. This much I am sure of.

St Cirq:

Do get a grip. The stuff's called Beaujolais. So it HAS to come from the Beaujolais. AOC has nothing to do with the issue, and 'Beaujolais' isn't some kind of hokey brand like Christian Brothers. Montmartre is a long, long way from the Beaujolais.

Here in Europe, territorial designations - with one or two sad exceptions, like Cheddar, or Melton Mowbray pies - mean that's where the stuff comes from. We leave it to Americans to misuse terms like Parmesan or Champagne

Hi go,

Once upon a time, the Lords of the Manor released a few barrels of the new wine to the peasants who had harvested it and had a party.

Somewhere in the '60s (don't hold me to that) one of the very large French vintners came up with the idea of peddling new wine to the whole world.

This is a beautiful example of the power of advertising.

I have been in France several times in November when BN is released. BN has been around for a very long time although it does seem to heavily marketed over the last several decades everywhere. I do not recall anything special about the ocassion except that BN appears to be available everywhere. BN is a simple fruity wine made to be drunk very young. Enjoy it. Not everyone wants or can afford just to drink Petrus, La Tache, Gaja etc.

Right you are. And while Beaujolais Nouveau comes out on the third Thursday with a flourish, it is a bit of a "season" as opposed to simply a single night's event. Those who are going to Paris for Thanksgiving will see plenty of banners and signs around the city reminding them to partake in this year's offering.

Thank you for the comments. I will post my experience with BN when I return. And maybe the chocolate festival!!

I will be in Paris next Thursday during the release, and I will be posting my journal to my weblog while I am away. Lets see what happens!

http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartparis/

Bookmark and tune in daily!!

Le Sancerre on rue des Abbesses does a big thing for the release of Beaujolais Nouveau. Plus, it's a fun, rowdy crowd almost any time of year.