Beaujonomie

What is Beaujonomie?

It is the spirit of conviviality, gathering around a table for food and wine with friends, and the art of beautifully pairing versatile Beaujolais wines with seasonal dishes. 

I was lucky to experience all of the above at a dinner hosted by Discover Beaujolais, here in New York. We also got to taste some extraordinary wines and hear from the winemakers behind them (albeit, unfortunately, remotely!), including some unexpected hits like the Domaine Piron Beaujolais Rose 2020 and the Domaine de Thulon Beujolais-Villages Blanc 2019, a Chardonnay, which is, perhaps, not what you first think of when you hear Beaujolais!

Located between Burgundy to the north and the Rhone to the south, the region is wonderfully versatile. Beaujolais is made up of 12 appellations, uniting a community of over 2000 winegrowers, each with their own story and philosophy. 

The Gamay grape  – the Gamay noir a jus blanc, to be precise – makes up 98% of Beaujolais wine and is likely to be something you may have tried previously. It is a natural cross between a pinot noir and a gouais blanc grape, and it is festive, expressive, and multifaceted as can be.

The event took place outdoors at Rooftop Reds – what a great find! A little vineyard with an iconic view of New York. I learned so much about the varietals of Beaujolais and can’t wait to continue to expand my own wine tastes. 

ps. If you’re curious, some of my favorites from the evening included the Marine Descombe Beaujolais-Village 2018 red, served perfectly chilled, and the Domaine des Marrans Fleurie 2019. Fleurie wines (easy to remember as an association with “floral,” though that’s not where the appellation name comes from!) are so delightful and plush, with a fruity, delicately floral taste.

#discoverbeaujolais