AOC Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

Beaujolais Villages Nouveau is the primeur wine of the villages in northern Beaujolais. Picked at the end of summer, it is drunk from the autumn onwards, while the fruit is at its brightest. Every cuvée on this page is a red Gamay, made by growers who also make crus.

Beaujolais Villages Nouveau or Beaujolais Nouveau: what is the difference?

It all comes down to where the grapes grow. Beaujolais Nouveau can come from anywhere in the vineyard, down to the southern slopes. Beaujolais Villages Nouveau comes only from the 38 communes of the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, where Gamay grows on granite and schist.

If you want a primeur from the whole region, our Beaujolais Nouveau selection gathers them. Non-primeur Beaujolais Villages, aged for longer, have a page of their own.

A wine ready two months after harvest

Gamay is picked in whole bunches, then made by carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration. The bunches spend four to seven days in a closed vat under carbon dioxide, and fermentation starts inside the berries.

This method brings out bright fruit and soft tannins. The wine is bottled within weeks, ready for its November release.

In the glass, Beaujolais Villages Nouveau ranges from violet red to garnet with purple glints. They show red fruit, black cherry, morello cherry or raspberry, sometimes with a touch of spice.

How to choose your Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

Organic. The selection includes one certified organic cuvée, from vine to bottle.

No added sulfites. One cuvée is made with no added sulfites, if you want a primeur as close to the grape as possible.

HVE or Terra Vitis. Several cuvées hold the HVE (High Environmental Value) certification or the Terra Vitis label, two environmental schemes checked by an independent body.

By the meal. The roundest, spiciest cuvée is also suggested with red meat; all of them suit an aperitif.

Serving and pairing Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

It is a wine for the aperitif and for the table. Our growers suggest it with a charcuterie board, poultry, white meat or a risotto.

To go further, read our article on Beaujolais nouveau, and the one that sorts fact from myth about it.

Why buy your Beaujolais Villages Nouveau direct?

On Avenue des Vins, every bottle ships from the estate: you buy close to the estate price, with no middleman, and careful delivery in France and across Europe. Our growers also make crus, from Chiroubles to Brouilly, and most of them live in the villages of those appellations. You order their primeur from the estate, just like their crus.

FAQ about Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

When is Beaujolais Villages Nouveau released?

On the third Thursday of November, like every Beaujolais primeur. This shared date was set in 1985; before it, the wine is neither served nor delivered.

Can I order it before the release date?

Yes, depending on the estate. The new cuvées often open for pre-order in the autumn, with delivery from the third Thursday of November.

Is Beaujolais Villages Nouveau a cru?

No. Beaujolais has ten crus, including Morgon, Fleurie and Chiroubles, each with its own appellation. Beaujolais Villages Nouveau belongs to the Beaujolais-Villages appellation and is sold as a primeur.

How long does Beaujolais Villages Nouveau keep?

Our growers say one to three years. It is still a wine of the year: open it in the months after release to enjoy its fruit.

Why is Beaujolais nouveau said to taste of banana?

The note comes from an ester, isoamyl acetate, made by certain yeasts during fermentation. Our growers describe their cuvées in terms of red fruit, cherry or raspberry instead.

Explore also: Beaujolais wines - AOC Beaujolais - Gamay wines