Beaujolais
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
AligotéGamay De Bouze (Gamay Teinturier De Bouze)Gamay De Chaudenay (Gamay Teinturier De Chaudenay)MelonPinot GrisPinot Noir
Terroir
Natural factors
- Vineyard extending across 77 communes in the Rhône department and 11 in Saône-et-Loire, at elevations between 180 m and 550 m
- To the north: a Hercynian Paleozoic basement (granites, porphyries, schists) giving rise to acidic sandy soils
- To the south: Triassic and Jurassic (Mesozoic) limestones, including the Aalenian 'pierres dorées', with more clay-rich soils (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Human factors
- Red and rosé wines: gamay N variety, short-pruned as gobelet with spurs; whites: chardonnay B only; vinification by semi-carbonic maceration
- Beaujolais nouveau, officially recognised on 13 November 1951, has been released every third Thursday of November since 1985
Product characteristics
- Reds: light colour, fruity nose, easy-drinking wines best enjoyed young; Villages: deeper colour, powerful and structured palate, capable of several years' ageing
- Primeur/nouveau wines (reds and rosés): bright colour, aromatic and lively with fresh acidity, for quick consumption within 6–12 months
Terroir / wine link
- Sandy soils derived from crystalline rock (north, Villages) → balanced, harmonious wines with a long aromatic finish; limestone soils (south) → fruitier, lighter wines
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Dénominations géographiques complémentaires
- Beaujolais Beaujeu AOC
- Beaujolais Blacé AOC
- Beaujolais Cercié AOC
- Beaujolais Charentay AOC
- Beaujolais Chânes AOC
- Beaujolais Denicé AOC
- Beaujolais Emeringes AOC
- Beaujolais Jullié AOC
- Beaujolais La Chapelle-de-Guinchay AOC
- Beaujolais Lancié AOC
- Beaujolais Lantignié AOC
- Beaujolais Le Perréon AOC
- Beaujolais Les Ardillats AOC
- Beaujolais Leynes AOC
- Beaujolais Marchampt AOC
- Beaujolais Montmelas-Saint-Sorlin AOC
- Beaujolais Odenas AOC
- Beaujolais Pruzilly AOC
- Beaujolais Quincié-en-Beaujolais AOC
- Beaujolais Rivolet AOC
- Beaujolais Romanèche-Thorins AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Didier-sur-Beaujeu AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Etienne-des-Oullières AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Julien AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Lager AOC
- Beaujolais Saint-Symphorien-d'Ancelles AOC
- Beaujolais Salles-Arbuissonnas-en-Beaujolais AOC
- Beaujolais Vaux-en-Beaujolais AOC
- Beaujolais Vauxrenard AOC
- Beaujolais Villages AOC
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 9 septembre 2022
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry