Beaujolais Beyond Nouveau

DISCOVER Beaujolais

WINE COUNTRY

Beaujolais Beyond Nouvea. An In-Depth Guide to France’s Most Underrated Wine Region.

France’s Beaujolais region produces some of the most vibrant, food-friendly reds on the planet, with an array of 10 crus and entry-level village options available for in-depth exploration along the 87-mile Beaujolais Wine Route.

The grape that defines the region is Gamay, a thin-skinned, high-acid, fruit-forward red grape that makes light, lower-ABV, refreshing wines best served with a slight chill.

Sounds delicious, right? And yet for centuries, Beaujolais has suffered from an image problem. The bad PR can be traced to 1395 when Philip the Bold banned the Gamay grape from Beaujolais’ northern cousin, Burgundy, dubbing it “très mauvais et très desloyaus,” which translates to “very bad and very disloyal.”

Bold’s critique cast quite the pall on the region, and while the massive highly-marketed phenomenon known as Beaujolais Nouveau certainly earned the region plenty of attention, it wasn’t necessarily the right kind. Historically, vintners in the region created vin de primeur, or a young and fresh wine, to celebrate the end of harvest season. That early-release wine was officially recognized in 1951 by the French government, and modern Beaunolais Nouveau was born.

While the wine released on the third Thursday of November can be found on many a Thanksgiving table, and certainly helps juice sales of the young wine, it hasn’t done the more serious cru-level Beaujolais any favors. Beaujolais Nouveau’s unsophisticated, bubblegum, banana, and candied strawberry notes are perfect paired with parties and poultry, but carefully crafted and aged, and highly ageable cru Beaujolais is in a completely different category.

Both are great. Both reflect different sides of Beaujolais, ripe for exploration and delectation—in the glass and on the ground!

GETTING TO BEAUJOLAIS

Beaujolais is about 250 miles from Paris. A drive takes four hours, and a high-speed train takes just two. But the easiest — and tastiest — gateway is Lyon. The Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport receives flights from across the world. Lyon to Beaujolais is a 45-minute drive.

The historic city is one of France’s, and the world’s, great culinary capitals, with 14 Michelin-starred restaurants, including historic institutions that carry on the legacy of Paul Bocuse and sophisticated temples to contemporary French gastronomy.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BEAUJOLAIS

For the ultimate glow-up, hit Beaujolais in May and June, when the cool Continental climate offers sunshine and warmth, but not heat. The many storybook villages of the region have a welcome bustle, but they’re not crowded. The hillsides are blanketed by wildflowers, the vineyard growth is lush, the restaurants have a riot of freshly harvested seasonal produce and young Spring cheeses.

September is also a wonderful time, offering opportunities to see harvest activities like grape picking, and the chance to see and feel the energy of winemaking in action. The entire countryside will be awash with activity and the captivating scent of fermenting grapes.

October is ideal for leaf-peeping and cycling and hiking enthusiasts—the region offers incredible climbs and biking routes, and the weather is sunny but crisp.

November, of course, is a hive of activity centered around Beaujolais Nouveau Day (in 2026, it will be November 19).

History of Winemaking in Beaujolais

The roots of winemaking in Beaujolais date back to Roman times. Vines were cultivated here as early as the first century BC, when Roman legions conquered Gaul.

Certain crus, including Juliénas, have names that appear to be derived from Julius Caesar, the great Roman conqueror. In addition to bringing the people of Beaujolais under their control, Romans cultivated the land, planting vines across the region’s river valleys.

Centuries later, Benedictine monks continued and deepened the practice of viticulture, meticulously cultivating vines in the most auspicious regions.

In the 1300s, as Philip the Bold alluded to in his ban, the popularity of the early-ripening large-yielding Gamay prompted farmers to plant it to excess, focusing on quantity over quality across the region. In Beaujolais, the grape still dominates the plantings, although other varieties are appearing. (Red wines made from grapes that aren’t Gamay in Beaujolais cannot be labeled as such, and must be labeled Vin de France.)

Following World War II, the young wine popularized as Beaujolais Nouveau, made from grapes fermented rapidly and released weeks after harvest, became a global juggernaut.

The Terroir of Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a study in contrasts, with two distinct personalities, north and south. Just 35 miles long, Beaujolais is perched between the storied northerly wine region of Burgundy and the legendary culinary city of Lyon.

The southern portion of the region is characterized by gentler rolling hills, clay and limestone soils, producing juicy, aromatic wines. The wines here tend to produce lighter, juicier, aromatic wines, and much of the Beaujolais Nouveau.

Northern Beaujolais, which closely borders Burgundy, offers a more dramatic landscape, shaped by ancient volcanic activity. The slopes are steeper, weathered granite, schist, and diorite — or blue stones. This northerly portion is home to all 10 prestigious appellations known as crus.

GRAPES & WINES OF BEAUJOLAIS

While Gamay defines Beaujolais, there are two grapes permitted to grow in the region.

Red Grape: Gamay thrives in Beaujolais. Capable of developing finesse, raciness, delicacy, freshness, and complexity, depending on where and how it is cultivated, fermented, and aged. About half of the world’s 74,131 acres planted are here in Beaujolais. (Other red grapes are grown but not recognized. Red wines made from grapes that aren’t Gamay in Beaujolais cannot be labeled as such, and must be labeled Vin de France.)

White Grape: Chardonnay is the most widely planted white grape in the world, but in Beaujolais, it reveals a high degree of full-bodied, floral, fruit-forward complexity and intensity. Beaujolais Blanc, made exclusively from Chardonnay, is a growing category, but still very small.

Understanding the 12 Appellations & 10 Crus of Beaujolais

Beaujolais vines can be found in 33,360 acres, about 97% of which is planted to Gamay. The wine region features 12 official appellations: Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villags, and the 10 distinct Crus.

The Crus are all historic villages making 100% red wines from the Gamay grape.

Appellation Beaujolais: If you encounter a wine bottle with AOC Beaujolais on the label, the grapes inside could be plucked from any of the 72 communes within the mounds. It is located primarily in the south, between Arbresle and Belleville, with a sprinkling of plots along the eastern slopes of the Beaujolais Crus. The soil is primarily pink granite, blue stone, limestone, clay, and ancient Piedmont deposits.

Appellation Beaujolais Villages: This appellation is perched in the northern part of the region, and encompasses 38 villages with steep vineyards that are 200 to 500 meters in altitude, surrounding the 10 crus. These are considered mid-range, up from entry-level Beaujolais, but a level below Cru wine. The soil is primarily gneiss, blue stone, sandstone, shale, and granite.

The 10 Crus

Brouilly: This is the largest and most approachable Cru. The southernmost and largest Cru, this begins at the foot of Mont Brouilly, and produces fruit-driven wine with notes of minerals. The surface area is 2,965 acres, and offers up soils of pink granite, blue stone, limestone, marl, clay, and shale.

Côte de Brouilly: This small area is at the summit of Mont Brouilly, and generally offers wines that are fresh, structured, with aromas of pepper, and macerated black fruit. The surface area is 741 acres, and the soil includes blue stone, granite, and Piedmont deposits.

Chénas: The smallest appellation in Beaujolais, it is named for the oak forests that were cleared by the Gallo-Romans. The wines bottled here offer up small black fruit, gentle floral scents, spice. The surface area is 618 acres, with soils of granite and Piedmont deposits.

Chiroubles: The highest-elevation Cru, this is perched on starkly steep hillsides with amphitheatre-like valleys. The wines that emerge are delicate and fragrant, with incredible freshness and vibrance. The surface area here is 617 acres, with pink granite soils.

Fleurie: Elegance in a glass. Sloping down from steep peaks, including Col de Durbize and Pic Raymont, this Cru offers gorgeous views, and complex, black and red fruit-forward flavors, silkiness, delicacy. The surface area is 2,075 acres, and the soil is primarily pink granite, with some Piedmont deposits.

Juliénas: Legend has it that this Cru was named for Julius Caesar. This sunny Cru stretches across four communes, or 1,420 acres and produces rich, full-bodied wines with a lot of fruit and spice. The soil is dominated by blue stone, granite, Piedmont deposits, and schist.

Morgon: This is arguably the one Cru everyone knows about. The wines that emerge here are powerful and memorable, with notes of sour cherries, violet, and kirsch. The surface area encompasses 2,693 acres, with granite, blue stone, and Piedmont deposits.

Moulin-à-Vent: Dubbed the King of Beaujolais, this Cru produces cellar-worthy wines capable of aging for decades, with notes of wilted roses, ripe fruit, forest, and truffles. The surface area covers 1,581 acres, with granite, limestone, marl, and sandstone soils.

Régnié: Made a Cru in 1988, the wines here are fresh, bright, and easy-drinking. The surface area covers 1,359 acres, with granite and Piedmont deposits.

Saint-Amour: This Cru is especially popular around Valentine’s Day for obvious reasons, but its textures, floral wines are great year-round too. The surface area is 778 acres with Piedmont deposits, granite, blue stone, limestone, marl, and clay.

MUST VISIT WINERIES IN BEAUJOIAIS

Beaujolais is becoming increasingly open for visitors, but as you wander, drive, or bike through the region and its storybook villages, put this trio in your GPS.

Château du Moulin-à-Vent: The estate is a must-visit for history and wine nerds. The winery is situated in northern Beaujolais, with a beautifully restored 19th century chapel that serves as its tasting room. Take a tour and see the emblematic, walled vineyard of the estate, the historic windmill, and the 16th century vaulted cellars to learn about the estate’s organic practices and meticulous viticulture. The wines here offer immediate joy and incredible ageability. Tastings start at around $14 a person, with a purchase of wine.

Château des Bachelards: Step onto the 30 acre estate, and step back more than 1,000 years in history. Château des Bachelards was founded by Cluniac monks in 1100 in Fleurie, and manages to blend that rich monastic history with a modern approach to organic and biodynamic viticulture. For a simple guided tasting of four wines, it’s less than $10, and an in-depth tour of the cellars and and vineyards is around $25. A tasting paired with local foods and an immersive tour is $45. (Do the latter, you won’t regret it!) Other options, including picnicking in the vines, abound.

Domaine Christophe Savoye: This 37 acre estate in Chiroubles has been run and passed down through six generations, and while it is renowned for its fine wine, it is also justly celebrated for its laid-back approach. When you visit, you will likely be greeted by or at least chat with a member of the Savoye family, who generally lead the tours. It is also family friendly, and offers grape juice tastings (for free) to children. And if you’ve ever dreamed of waking up in the vines, rent their spacious cottage, or spend the night in a boho caravan. Tastings start at less than $10.

WHERE TO STAY IN BEAUJOLAIS

Hôtel Villa Alexandre: For a splurge, check out the restored 1794 manor house-turned hotel in Régnie-Durette. Set amid vineyards, visitors fall for the luxurious rooms, wellness center, pool, and incredible restaurant showcasing the best local food and wines.

Mansion d’Hôtes en Beaujolais in Villié-Morgon: This is an incredible value. This charming bed and breakfast offers a taste of authentic French hospitality in a restored 19th century farmhouse. Visitors receive homemade breakfasts, vineyard views, garden strolls. Wellness massages are available.

Exploring the Wine Route … Beyond Wine!

If driving in Beaujolais has you nervous—no need. There is plenty of parking, and the driving around the villages and country roads is easy, absent a few ups and downs and tight squeezes along curvy hillsides.

Mont Brouilly: This is an instantly recognizable blue-stone landmark, and one that you are likely familiar with from paging through countless wine books. The “hill” rises up unexpectedly, and beautifully in the middle of Beaujolais vineyards and countryside. Visitors who summit the Mont will be treated to sweeping views of the countryside. The most popular trail is a 4.8-mile route that starts in the village of Saint-Lager and takes 2.5 hours. At the top, sits the famous and charmingly named Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Raisings, built in 1854. Free

Hameau Duboeuf: Travelers with children of all ages will want to hit this interactive wine-themed park and museum. Experienced wine lovers will also learn something at this historical, but fun-loving dive into the history of wine. Explore animation shows, a treasure trove of historical objects, art, and animated shows. There is also an homage to Georges Duboeuf, and a small vineyard to explore, with wine-tasting experiences and a restaurant. (Don’t skip the fantastic boutique!)

Oingt-en-Beaujolais: This is one of the most stunning villages in the world, and certainly considered an exemplar of medieval beauty in the Pierres Dorées (Golden Stones) region of Beaujolais. Built from golden limestone, it is lined with artisan workshops, quirky museums (hit the Musée de la Musique Mécanique to delve into a compelling collection of antique music boxes), cafés, wine tasting experiences, and killer vantage points. Climb the 13th century castle for the best views of the surrounding village and vineyards that fan out across the countryside, as far as the eye can see. Free to wander.

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