Four 2006 Beaujolais “nouveau” wines will be available at the PEILCC stores throughout the Province beginning Thursday, November 16, 2006. Beaujolais Nouveau wines are the first to be released from the new vintage each year, celebrating the completion of the grape harvest.
The nouveau wine tradition began many years ago in the vineyards of the Beaujolais region of France when local winemakers 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 their skins are still intact. The grapes are then pressed to produce a fresh, fruity wine which, unlike other wines, is designed to be consumed immediately.
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.
All four Beaujolais Nouveau wines sell at very reasonable retail: The DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau @ $11.84, The Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau @ $16.67, Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau @ $14.96 and the Pierre Andre Beaujolais Nouveau @ $15.70. Quantities of all the nouveau 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 with the manager and he/she would be pleased to acquire them for you.