Beaujolais

The north of the city of Lyon located Beaujolais wine growing region [ boʒɔlɛ ] is geographically, even though part of Burgundy, but is due to the very different characteristics of the wines its own wine region. The red wine is made ​​from the Gamay grape variety, which is not allowed in Burgundy for higher qualities. His name carries the Beaujolais after the reign Beaujeu, but today the center of the area is Villefranche -sur -Saône. Administratively, the Beaujolais is part of the Rhône department and thus to the region Rhône -Alpes.

• 4.1 Beaujolais Primeur 4.1.1 curiosity

Geography

The Beaujolais comprises 72 municipalities, which roughly divided into two regions.

The southern region is almost square and is described by the corner points Chazay -d'Azergues, Pontcharra -sur- Turdine, Chamelet and Villefranche -sur -Saône. The area is situated in a lovely hilly landscape at altitudes between 350 and 400 m. In the west, the area is protected by a range of hills with an altitude 650-800 m before to moist air. The floor is formed by erosion and is usually made ​​of a limestone and clay mixture. The soils are quite poor and dry out quickly.

The northern region is determined by pronounced hills and better soils on the basis of granite. From this area, which begins north of Villefranche -sur -Saône and ends right under the area of ​​Mâcon, come the quality wines of the Beaujolais -Villages and the ten Crus, so that ten appellations with special status.

Overall, the Beaujolais comprises approximately 23,000 hectares of vineyards, extends to a length of 50 km in a north-south direction and is up to 15 km wide. The Saône forms the eastern edge of the area.

Climate

Three climatic zones can overlap in this region: a continental trend, an oceanic and Mediterranean trend. The weather can change very quickly in favor of one or the other tendency over the entire year. Due to the pronounced hills, these effects can be microclimatically strongly buffered. This explains that the northern communities in supposedly less favorable sites have the best vineyards. The average rainfall is about 750 millimeters per year.

Appellations

Beaujolais

Throughout the region the Beaujolais appellation may be used. Beaujolais Supérieur may be called the wine when the sugar content of the must can expect an increase of at least 0.5 % alcohol content. A total of 10,500 ha are in the Appellation d' Origine (AOC ) Beaujolais planted and are marketed as such. From this appellation also the basic wines of Beaujolais Primeur be taken.

Beaujolais -Villages

38 municipalities have the right to expand the wine in the AOC Beaujolais -Villages. This corresponds to a vineyard area of ​​6,250 ha

Cru or Grand Cru

On the northern edge of Beaujolais -Villages - area are ten communal appellations, most of which are named after churches. These so-called " Crus " ( family) of Beaujolais represent the pinnacle in quality and production, in contrast to the other wines of Beaujolais have a shelf. These wines can distinguish the different vintages. The Beaujolais Crus are:

Saint -Amour (317 ha), Juliénas (609 ha), Chénas (285 ha), Moulin à Vent ( 681 ha), Morgon ( 1,132 ha), Chiroubles ( 376 ha), Fleurie ( 879 ha), Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly ( 1,315 and 331 ha) and Régnié ( 746 ha).

Coteaux du Lyonnais

Of Beaujolais on 350 ha in the wine region Coteaux du Lyonnais near Lyon wines in the style created. Only the cooperative Sain -Bel generates 75 % of this rare wine in the Beaujolais style.

Red wine

In Beaujolais red wines are made ​​exclusively from the Gamay grape, which produces very fruity, sometimes slightly pale red wines. These wines can be in the summer, even slightly chilled to enjoy very many dishes. The cultivation of the Pinot noir grape is allowed, but no longer exists in this Beaujolais today.

Normally you prepare red wine by partially crushed the grapes and then there for the fermentation in a container. In the Beaujolais grapes are left alone and burst ( carbonic maceration → ) by the fermentation process at. Fermentation can take up in the spring after the harvest and cut the Gamay maximum dye and tannin under certain circumstances. Beaujolais should be drunk young indeed, but tolerated Beaujolais that are not eng, quite a up to four years of storage. In particular, Beaujolais Villages should even be aged for at least one year before the consumption.

Beaujolais Primeur

The Beaujolais Primeur ( Beaujolais nouveau also ) was the first wine that was allowed to be sold in the year of its production. Traditionally, this is done on the third Thursday in November.

On November 13, 1951, the winemakers of Beaujolais fought for an exemption from the French wine law. This allowed them to bring their new wine from 15 December in the trade. This approach was adopted for the next 15 years. 1967, the date of purchase was laid on the 15th of November and in 1985 the third Thursday in November was set as a fixed date for the start of sales of Beaujolais Nouveau.

This form of marketing has played a decisive role in the global announcement of the Beaujolais wine -growing region and as was by the winegrower Georges Duboeuf beginning of the 50s (1953 ) introduced. She has contributed to the reputation of the region to produce wines of lower quality. In 2002, the proportion of young wines had risen to over 50 % of total production.

Since the classical carbonic maceration is too slow, the wine may be made very quickly by means of artifices. Such a wine can briefly give pleasure due to its overwhelming fragrance and its fruitiness, but is by far not represent the best of what the Beaujolais wine growing region has to offer.

A Primeur is not synonymous with Beaujolais. Also in other parts of France primeur wines may be produced. At the height of the Future Wave also young vegetables were similarly marketed.

Curious thing

Originally, the drinking of too young Futures was just a pastime English dandy, who flew by private plane to Burgundy to procure the very first new wine from France for themselves and their friends. For this social upper class Gaudium a mass cult evolved over time to the latest wine of the season. Some wine lovers are of the opinion that the better eng a few months if not a year, to wait for the sale. Here there is the opinions. Because the Future is fermented in an accelerated process, also developed a good Primeur, which is poorly stored, after a few weeks vinegar -like flavors.

Pot Lyonnais

A special feature in the Beaujolais is the Pot Lyonnais. This Servierflasche has a very thick glass bottom, which makes it possible to keep the wine on the table longer cool. But the bottle is first cooled in the freezer.

White wine

White wine plays a minor role in the Beaujolais and makes only about 1 % of production. The white wine grapes are Chardonnay grapes, but are relatively insignificant for the fame of Beaujolais, and abroad are white Beaujolais wines therefore extremely rare and virtually unknown.

In Germany are largely unknown Beaujolais rosé wines.