Top 100 red wines of Beaujolais

Discover the top 100 best red wines of Beaujolais as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the red wines that are popular of Beaujolais and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Beaujolais

Beaujolais is an important wine region in eastern France, famous for its vibrant, Fruity red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately South of Burgundy, of which it is sometimes considered a Part, although it is in the administrative region of Rhône. The extensive plantings of Gamay in this region make Beaujolais one of the few regions in the world that is so concentrated on a single Grape variety. Pinot Noir is used in small quantities in red and rosé wines, but in the name of regional identity, it is being phased out and will only be allowed until the 2015 harvest.

Although best known for its red wines, the region also produces white Beaujolais Blanc, from Chardonnay and Aligote. These two white wine varieties are also sometimes used in local red wines, in which they can make up to 15% of the Final blend. There are several forms of Beaujolais red wine: standard Beaujolais (including Beaujolais Supérieur), Beaujolais Villages and the Young, characterful Beaujolais Nouveau. The highest quality wines of the region are those of the ten Beaujolais crus - ten wine regions Long recognized as the best in the region.

Discover the grape variety: Gamay noir

Gamay is a Burgundian grape variety that has existed since the 14th century. For fear of competition with the pinot noir of Burgundy, gamay was finally uprooted and planted in the Beaujolais region, from Mâcon to Lyon. These siliceous and granitic soils suit it perfectly, and it gives its best here. But it is also planted all over France, such as in Lorraine, in the Loire Valley, in Bugey, in Savoie and in Auvergne. Gamay is early and very productive and needs to be limited so that quality prevails over quantity. Short winter pruning of the shoots and high density of vines per hectare are the methods that allow it to produce very fruity, fresh and greedy red wines. Gamay is also very popular in red wine futures, and produces wines from the Beaujolais region with very interesting character and ageing potential. The AOCs Crémant-de-Bourgogne, Mâcon, Anjou, Touraine, Rosé de vallée de la Loire, Côtes-d'Auvergne, Saint-Pourçain, Bugey, Gaillac, Côtes du Luberon... and many vins de pays are proud of it. Today, about 36,000 hectares of Gamay are cultivated in France, including 22,000 hectares in Beaujolais.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Beaujolais

red wines from the region of Beaujolais go well with generally quite well with dishes of pasta, veal or pork such as recipes of pasta with chicken, deer stew or rabbit socks in gibelotte.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Beaujolais

On the nose in the region of Beaujolais often reveals types of flavors of cherry, hay or menthol and sometimes also flavors of dried herbs, tree fruit or banana. In the mouth in the region of Beaujolais is a with a nice freshness.

News from the vineyard of Beaujolais

The Irancy appellation seen by Clotilde Davenne

Clotilde Davenne, from the eponymous estate, mentions the cherry as a main characteristic of the Irancy appellation. She tells us about the Pinot Noir variety which reveals, in its northern location of Bourgogne, lots of freshness and fruitiness that gives the appellation a very special place among the wines of the region. This video is taken from the “Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne” program (June 2020). Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines​ Twitter: https: ...

At the heart of the terroirs of Mâcon-Cruzille

Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Cruzille, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWi ...

Chablis wines in the Hong Kong market by Debra MEIBURG

On December 10, 2020, four Hong Kong personalities discussed Chablis wines on a live webinar: Yang LU, Master Sommelier and Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador, Debra MEIBURG, Master of Wine, Ivy NG, Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador and Rebecca LEUNG, wine expert. In this minute-long clip, Debra MEIBURG discusses the position of Chablis wines in the Hong Kong market. #Chablis #PureChablis ...