Beaujolais nouveau: why celebrate the arrival of a wine?

B e a u j o l a i s n o u v e a u : w h y c e l e b r a t e t h e a r r i v a l o f a w i n e ?

October 28, 2026

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Wine Talk

Three adult friends sharing a conversation around red wine and a small plate in a bistro — © VAVIN 酒盒子

A chalkboard outside a bistro, friends meeting after work, a bottle awaited for a whole year. In November, Beaujolais nouveau brings something a little different: choosing a wine becomes a reason to get together.

But why does this particular bottle have a celebration of its own?

A first taste of the new harvest

Beaujolais nouveau is a primeur wine, made to be enjoyed young, just a few weeks after the grape harvest. Its red version is made from gamay, the emblematic grape of the region.

The idea is not to wait years before opening it. It is to discover wines from the harvest that has just ended, generally in a fruity, supple style. And from one producer to another, the bottles do not tell quite the same story.

Why everyone waits for the same day

Since 1985, its release has been set for the third Thursday in November. This year, that means 19 November 2026.

That shared date turns a release into a rendezvous. Friends make plans, book a table and discover the first bottles together. The conversation often begins with a simple question: “So, what is it like this year?”

You do not need the vocabulary of a sommelier to join in. Saying what you enjoy, comparing impressions and listening to others are already part of the pleasure.

Two lightly filled red wine glasses with terrine, bread and cornichons on a grey table — © VAVIN 酒盒子

A simple table is enough

To capture that spirit in Taiwan, there is no need to prepare an elaborate French dinner. A few slices of terrine on bread, some ham or a roast chicken to share can be enough. The fruit and generally gentle tannins of the wine readily accompany this kind of food, without demanding a complicated plate.

Takeaway dishes placed in the middle of the table work too. The point is not to recreate a Lyon bistro, but to keep the idea of an easy meal where everyone feels welcome.

An introduction, not the whole region

Beaujolais is not only about nouveau. The region also produces other wines, including crus such as Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent, each offering different characters to discover.

At VAVIN 酒盒子, this is the spirit of discovery we enjoy sharing: starting with a bottle, asking a question and wanting to explore a little further.

Ultimately, Beaujolais nouveau offers a good answer to a familiar question: “When shall we get together?”