In with the New

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The third Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day in France—a time of fireworks, music, festivals, and especially wine! Celebrated in the Beaujolais sub-region of Burgundy, the holiday is centered around the wine of the same name. For those not in the know, Beaujolais Nouveau is a red made from Gamay grapes, and it is uniquely fermented for only a few weeks after the grapes are harvested.

Festivities start at a ripe 12am, where wine-growers roll their fresh casks of crimson, holiday goodness down the streets to local shops. The short fermentation period makes bottles affordable, and it is generally best to serve chilled (to highlight the fresh flavors). It’s a party for the masses that runs until the break of dawn—let’s hope that the following Friday is a bank holiday too!

We’ve got bottles to help bring the Nouveau to you at home. Whether you’re celebrating alongside France, or getting a head start on Thanksgiving, here are some of our picks.

Bottles to look for:

Chermette A one-way taste ticket to Beaujolais! An authentic Nouveau bottle, with notes of cassis and raspberry.

Fritz Muller Perlwein Trocken ($21) Peaches, grapefruit, and almonds in a light, friendly fizz. Light and celebratory.

Gonet-Medeville ($48) Brut champagne brought to you by a husband-wife duo. Elegant, organic, with a long finish. A delicious wine that rivals (and in some cases, surpasses) the big houses at a fraction of the price.

Yves Cuilleron Condrieu ($52) A decadent elixir of apricot, pear and ginger.

Tour du Bon Bandol ($31) Powerful yet disarmingly fresh. Notes of ripe black fruit, olives, and herbs de Provence.

Industry Standard Vodka ($43) For those taking a mixology angle—hints of subtle fruits on the nose, with a layered complexity beneath. Made from sugar beets in Brooklyn’s very own Industry City Distillery. Talk about keeping it local!