Beaujolais

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The Beaujolais vineyard extends 55 kilometres from north to south between Lyon and Mâcon, and 15 to 20 kilometres from east to west, at an altitude ranging from 180 to 550 metres.
• The northern part of the Beaujolais vineyard rests on ancient Paleozoic formations such as granites, porphyries, schists and volcano-sedimentary rocks resulting from the Hercynian uplift, which weather into sandy or clayey soils with an acidic reaction.
• The southern part of the Beaujolais vineyard presents sedimentary formations from the Triassic and Jurassic, mainly limestone, arranged in elongated hillsides, with generally more clayey and deeper soils, including the golden-yellow crinoidal limestones of the Aalenian known locally as "pierres dorées".
• The Monts du Beaujolais shelter the vineyard from westerly winds and generate a foehn effect that dries out the oceanic air, reducing cloud cover and rainfall, while the Saône valley channels southern air masses, increasing light levels and moderating temperature swings.
• The geographical area covers the territory of 77 communes in the Rhône department and 11 communes in the Saône-et-Loire department, where the hillsides are mainly oriented to the east and south.

• The Beaujolais appellation d'origine contrôlée was recognised by decree on 12 September 1937, then in 1943 a list of 31 communes in the north was authorised to add its name, before being grouped together in 1950 under the designation Villages.
• To preserve the fruity character, producers follow a typically Beaujolais winemaking method inspired by semi-carbonic maceration, with Gamay as the essential grape variety for red and rosé wines, trained in gobelet and pruned with coursons.
• The Beaujolais vineyard is characterised by modestly sized plots, averaging 0.3 hectares, forming a patchwork landscape of vines.
• Since 1985, Beaujolais nouveau has been released to consumers on the third Thursday of November, a phenomenon officially born in 1951 with the authorisation to sell primeur wine before 15 December.

• The red wines of the Beaujolais appellation show a light colour with a fruity nose and are described as easy-drinking, fruity and floral, enjoyable from their youth.
• Wines bearing the designation "primeur" or "nouveau", reserved for reds and rosés, are meant for quick consumption within 6 to 12 months of being made.

• In the North, on acidic soils, the wines tend to be powerful and deeply coloured, whereas in the South, on mainly calcareous substrates, they are generally fruitier and lighter.
• The clayey soils of the Beaujolais appellation's geographical area allow for the production of cuvées that are rich in colour and supple.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Beaujolais Beaujeu AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Blacé AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Cercié AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Charentay AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Chânes AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Denicé AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Emeringes AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Jullié AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais La Chapelle-de-Guinchay AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Lancié AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Lantignié AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Le Perréon AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Les Ardillats AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Leynes AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Marchampt AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Montmelas-Saint-Sorlin AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Odenas AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Pruzilly AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Quincié-en-Beaujolais AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Rivolet AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Romanèche-Thorins AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Didier-sur-Beaujeu AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Etienne-des-Oullières AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Julien AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Lager AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Saint-Symphorien-d'Ancelles AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Salles-Arbuissonnas-en-Beaujolais AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Vaux-en-Beaujolais AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Vauxrenard AOC (PDO)
• Beaujolais Villages AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 5 août 2026, JORF 13 août 2026
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Beaujolais