LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2023

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Over the years, Beaujolais has known many peaks in popularity, for its festive nouveau wines, for its pioneering sustainable and natural wine movements, and now for its incredible diversity. If you still have Beaujolais pegged as just one grape and one style, it’s time to drink again. The Diverse and Distinctive Wines of Beaujolais

GAMAY RED WINE AND SO MUCH MORE

FROM GRANITE SLOPES TO GENTLE HILLS

BEAUJOLAIS’ BRIGHT FUTURE In 1989, a determined group of Beaujolais growers began studying their vineyards to move toward more ecological farming methods. Less than a decade later, the region gave rise to France’s vineyard sustainability program, Terra Vitis . Since then, the efforts of Beaujolais producers have multiplied. Focus areas include improving vineyard biodiversity, reducing inputs, preserving soil life and water quality. Beaujolais is a leading area for certified sustainable viticulture. Wineries with organic, biodynamic, or corporate social responsibility accreditations are also increasing steadily.

Gamay thrives in the semi-continental climate of eastern France’s Beaujolais. The grape accounts for 96% of the region’s 13,500 hectares of vineyards. Red wine dominates, but fresh, aromatic Beaujolais rosé and blanc are on the rise. White wines are made from Chardonnay, planted mainly in the clay and chalk soils of southern Beaujolais. BEYOND LIGHT AND FRUITY Beaujolais is often associated carbonic maceration, a whole bunch fermentation technique that produces soft, fruit forward wines. This method is indeed popular for Beaujolais Nouveau, and its variant, semi-carbonic maceration, for many Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais Villages AOC wines. However, the complex, concentrated wines from Beaujolais’ cru appellations are generally derived from traditional fermentation and ageing practices.

The Beaujolais region is mountainous in the north, with sandy soils of mainly decomposed granite and schist. Further south, the terrain softens to rolling hills rich in clay and chalk. Soil composition varies widely from one site to another. A recent, region-wide soil mapping project revealed over 300 distinct soil profiles. A TALE OF 12 BEAUJOLAIS This terroir diversity yields markedly different wine styles across Beaujolais’ 12 appellations. The northern Beaujolais is home to the region’s ten cru production zones. The Beaujolais Villages AOC surrounds these crus, while the wider Beaujolais AOC covers the entire region, with plantings concentrated in the south. Saint-Amour: medium-bodied, spicy red fruit Juliénas: robust, dark-fruited Chénas: elusive, aromatic Moulin-à-Vent: powerful, structured Fleurie: floral finesse Chiroubles: Fresh, delicately perfumed

Morgon: complex, muscular Régnié: supple, fruity Brouilly: smooth, rounded Côte de Brouilly: elegant, fine-grained Beaujolais Villages: approachable, multi-faceted Beaujolais: light, early-drinking

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