Every third Thursday of November marks a cherished French tradition: the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. This year it falls on November 21st, 2024. This young, vibrant wine, made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region of France, is celebrated with much fanfare, laughter, and of course, delicious food. Hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau celebration at home is the perfect way to gather friends and family for an evening with French flair.
Here’s how to create a soirée that feels like you are toasting in to the new vintage in Lyon.
You may also love my articles on How to host a French Dinner Party or How to host an Apéro for more details.
Beaujolais Nouveau Day
The third Thursday of the month of November is the day, by French law, that the bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau are released for sale. Across France, bistros and cafés celebrate with fun menus and parties. Celebrations in the United States are also becoming more common and it is easy to understand why, It is a great way to get friends together for an informal and fun evening before the start of the holidays.
Set the Scene
Create a warm, inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a French bistro. Think low votive candles, little bud vases with fresh flowers, cloth napkins and wood cheese and charcuterie boards. String lights or fairy lights can add a touch of vineyard magic to your dining space.
For a personal touch, place small chalkboards or handwritten cards around the room with phrases like “Vive le Beaujolais Nouveau!” or “Le Vin Nouveau est arrivé!” This adds an authentic and festive vibe to the celebration. In France there is often live music in city squares for Beaujolais Nouveau so make sure not to forget to play French music. (Alexa: Play French Bistro music works wonders!)
The Star of the Evening: Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be enjoyed young and slightly chilled, making it easy to drink and a tasty pairing to many foods. Wine snobs get the night off - this wine is fun and fruity and not to be taken too seriously.
Most wine stores will be stocked with Beaujolais Nouveau (the most famous brand is Georges Duboeuf) When purchasing your bottles, look for those with vibrant, colorful labels, as they’re often designed to celebrate the release of the new vintage. Have enough wine on hand—plan for at least one bottle for every two guests, as this wine is sure to flow freely throughout the night.
You might even consider a fun wine-tasting activity. Serve the Beaujolais Nouveau alongside a few other light reds (such as a Pinot Noir or a fully matured Gamay such as a Beaujolais Villages) and invite your guests to compare flavors.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a fruit forward wine with fragrances of red berries and a brilliant deep ruby color, It is this year's vintage so it has only a couple months to age after the end of the harvest. Beaujolais Nouveau is historically a way to judge the quality of the vintage and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
A French-Inspired Menu
Beaujolais Nouveau pairs wonderfully with simple, hearty fare. Here’s a menu to inspire your celebration:
- Charcuterie and Cheese Board: Include saucisson sec (French dried sausage), pâté, and a selection of cheeses like Brie, Comté, and goat cheese. Add cornichons, Dijon mustard, and crusty baguette slices for the perfect accompaniments.
- Coq au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon: These slow-cooked dishes are crowd-pleasers that complement the fruity notes of the wine. Serve with buttery mashed potatoes or crusty bread to soak up the rich sauces.
- Salad Lyonnaise: A simple green salad with a Dijon vinaigrette, bacon lardons, and a poached egg on top for a touch of elegance.
- Dessert: End the meal with a light fruit tart or a plate of macarons for a sweet finish.
Add Festive Activities
French celebrations are all about joy and connection. Encourage your guests to learn a few toasts in French, like “Santé!” or “À votre santé!” Consider playing traditional French music in the background, or curate a playlist of Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, and modern French hits.
For a fun activity, provide small slips of paper and pens for guests to write down what they’re thankful for this year—a nod to Thanksgiving, which often coincides with Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations in the U.S.
Recipes for a Beaujolais Nouveau Inspired Celebration
Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée
I Love EVERYTHING about Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée. The rich, comforting broth. The ooey-gooey cheese pull. The dash of whiskey. A perfect meal to serve for socially distanced dinners outside in the winter.
Quick Easy French Baguettes (Baking Baguettes for Beginners)
Quick, easy French baguette recipe. Deliciously simple yet crusty and crackly, homemade French Baguettes. Follow this recipe for easy French Baguettes even first time bakers can make and with only a couple hours.
Authentic Olive Tapenade
Authentic Provençal Olive Tapenade is a delicious spread of olives, garlic, capers and anchovies, that is served in the South of France.
How to make a French Cheese board
This post includes everything you need to make a perfect French Cheese board. With a focus on quality, not quantity, a French board is simple to make with a few tips! 3 well chosen cheeses, a few slices of apple and some dried fruits, a little bowl of honey and perhaps some fig jam et
How to make a French Charcuterie Board
Everything you need to know about making a French Charcuterie Board. Whether it is for date night, a sit down dinner party, a potluck or an apéro dinatoire (also known as a cocktail dinatoire or heavy cocktail), here are some simple tips to making a perfect charcuterie board. The French call it a "planche de
Authentic Swiss Cheese Fondue
Learn to make an authentic Swiss Cheese Fondue. A rich, creamy blend of Swiss cheeses and a no-fail technique to get the perfect fondue. A great recipe to enjoy on a cold winter's night.
Classic Beef Bourguignon
This Beef Bourguignon, or "Boeuf Bourguignon" dish is one of the grand classics of French Cuisine, for good reason. Tender chunks of braised beef that melt in your mouth. A rich, winey sauce that envelops the beef and the supple vegetables. A dish you can't resist saying "yum" after just one bite - just like in one of my favorite movies, Julie & Julia.
Super Simple French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti)
How to make the most succulent, flavorful, crispy skinned chicken that looks like it belongs in a magazine. This Super Simple French Roast Chicken, or Poulet Rôti, recipe is so easy to make! You will want to make this recipe for your next dinner party with friends, Sunday lunch with the family or Tuesday night dinner for the kids!
Coq au Vin made simple
An iconic French Dish. Chicken that is seared, then braised in a rich red wine sauce that infuses it with so much flavor, you will say, "mmmmm" with every bite. Pearl onions, bacon and mushrooms add a level of flavor complexity, you won't believe you made this dish yourself!
Best Moelleux au Chocolat - Chocolate Lava Cake
Le Chef's Moelleux au chocolat recipe makes for a romantic dark chocolate cake that is rich on the outside and decadently gooey on the inside- positively oozing with dark chocolate. Moelleux au chocolat (translation: soft chocolate) is also known as a chocolate lava cake or as a mi-cuit au chocolat. The perfect dessert to make for the one you love.
Portions: 4
Degree of difficulty: ⅗ (simply for the equipment needed and for the bain marie technique)
Mousse au Chocolat (French Chocolate Mousse made simple)
French mousse au chocolat (Chocolate Mousse) will become your family's favorite dessert. A Rich dark chocolate flavor with a light, airy texture and a depth of flavor from the spices. This recipe takes less than a half hour to make (plus a few hours to chill) and can be made a day in advance. No one can resist an "mmmmm" when eating this Mousse!
How to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef
There is Crème Brûlée, and then there is Le Chef's Crème Brûlée. A rich, decadent and silky smooth cream, flecked with fragrant vanilla bean and a crisp, crackly top that shatters into sugar shards when you break into it. This crème brûlée is absolute perfection - and, with a few insider tips, is easier than you think to make a home. Are you ready to learn how to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef?
Vive la Tradition
Hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau celebration is about embracing the joie de vivre that French culture embodies. With good wine, delicious food, and a festive atmosphere, you’ll create a night to remember for your guests.
So pour a glass, say “Santé!” and toast to the new vintage.
Le beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!
Bon appétit,
ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (7 and 4) and I work full time in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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Suzanne says
I chose my arrival date perfectly! 😉
Julia says
I ADORE your recipes, I cook them all the time
Thank you both
Julia