The Beaujolais region of France is home to the Gamay grape, and is renowned for several wines produced from this hand-harvested fruit. One of the most well known is the vin de primeur Beaujolais Nouveau, fermented by carbonic maceration and bottled just six to eight weeks after harvest (as opposed to the months or years some wines are given). Each season’s Beaujolais Nouveau are kept off shelves around the world until a coordinated release on the third Thursday of November. That means when you pop open your first bottle or take your first sip of this fruity, bright, nearly tannin-less vino, folks from France to New York to San Francisco are doing the same. Where can you get your Beaujolais on? Check out several events held around Portland where you can celebrate the release. Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé! Or, in localspeak, it’s Beaujolais Nouveau time, baby. 

 

St. Jack NW (1610 NW 23rd Ave.)

Celebrate wine like the French but mix in a little Portlandia at this block party. Division Winemaking Company and St. Jack are throwing a French Beaujolais Nouveau festival to celebrate the release of young wines, as well as the collective’s own Nouveau-like wine, made with Oregon-grown Gamay grapes and aged for just five weeks. 

 

Heathman Restaurant and Bar (1001 SW Broadway)

French-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Française of Portland are pulling out the stops to celebrate the release of the first fruits of  France’s 2013 grape harvest. Along with free flowing Beaujolais Nouveau from producers like Georges Duboeuf and Joseph Drouhin, the fête will also feature plenty of wines from local producers like WillaKenzie Estate Winery, Pacific Rim Winemakers, and Cooper Mountain Vineyard. There will also be tastings of Pernod Absinthe, Hardy Cognac, European-style cider from Virtue Cider, and European beers. For sustenance, a colossal, multi-room buffet will offer such edibles as Sylvie grass-fed beef, roasted pig, lamb, Hama Hama oysters, charcuterie, premium ham, imported French cheese, assorted fresh breads from Grand Central Bakery, and tantalizing desserts from St. Honoré Bakery. 

 

St. Honoré Boulangerie (2335 NW Thurman St.)

St. Honoré Boulangerie takes a trip to France in honor of Beaujolais Nouveau Day. The $9 ticket gets you a trio of Nouveau-style beverages, including Normandy-inspired Cidre Nouveau hand poured by Rob Merollis from Virtue Cider, Oregon Gamay Nouveau by local Bow and Arrow Wines and a traditional DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2013. Also included is a special sneak-peek (or is that a sneak-bite?) of the Alsatian specialties that will grace the menu of St. Honoré's forthcoming SE Division location opening later this year.