November 15, 1999 Three Beaujolais Nouveau wines will be available at the PEILCC stores throughout Prince Edward Island beginning Thursday, November 18, 1999. Beaujolais Nouveau wines are the first wines to be released from the new vintage each year, celebrating the completion of the grape harvest. Beaujolais Nouveau wines are always released on the third Thursday in November. The "Nouveau" wine tradition began many years ago in the vineyards of the Beaujolais region of France when local wine makers developed a quick maturing wine to celebrate the completion of the grape harvest with their workers. They called the new wine Beaujolais Nouveau. Nouveau wines are produced by a unique process called carbonic maceration. In this process, grapes are placed uncrushed in vats and allowed to ferment while the skins are still intact. The grapes are then pressed to produce a fresh, fruity wine which, unlike other wines, is designed to be consumed young. Over the years, the annual release of the Beaujolais Nouveau has evolved into an international event. Today, Beaujolais Nouveau accounts for more than one-third of the world wide wine sales from the Beaujolais region. The three Beaujolais Nouveau wines released this Thursday are very reasonabley priced; Beaujolais Nouveau Bouchard @$16.95, Beaujolais Nouveau Drouhin @ $17.35 and Beaujolais Nouveau Duboeuf @ $17.75. Quantities of these wines are limited; interested customers are advised to shop early to avoid disappointment. If the store nearest you does not carry these wines, please consult the manager and he/she will be pleased to acquire them for you. For further information, please contact the PEILCC at 902-368-5715Media Contact: Island Information Service