In central France, around Lyon, lies the Beaujolais wine region. When you think of this region, you probably also think of its famous red wine, Beaujolais Primeur. But each of its wines is unique and world-renowned.

The wine-growing regions of Beaujolais

The ancient town of Beaujolais is the original namesake of this region. Wine was cultivated here as early as Roman times, and in the Middle Ages, the region's wines were particularly popular. In the 17th century, other wine regions emerged, putting a dent in Beaujolais's popularity. The region and its wineries endured a difficult period, but fortunately, the local wines later became popular again in Paris. This was mainly due to Beaujolais wine, known as a pleasant thirst-quencher. The wine region can be divided into Haut-Beaujolais and Bas-Beaujolais. The former boasts the best vineyards, with predominantly granite soils. This is also where the most famous Crus are found. The southern part is home to the more basic Beaujolais wines and the world-famous Beaujolais Nouveau wines.

The Beaujolais Primeur wines

Beaujolais Nouveau wines are also called Beaujolais Primeur wines. They are young and light wines produced from Gamay grapes. This wine is released annually on the third Thursday of November, making it the very first wine of the new vintage. The Joseph Drouhin winery also releases an annual Beaujolais Nouveau. Year after year, it is a fruity and particularly refreshing wine.

The wine region is nestled between two mountain ranges, providing much-needed protection but also increasing the risk of rain and thunderstorms. Winters are extremely cold, while summers can be scorching hot. This creates great diversity, but also presents some challenges. It's much warmer on the slopes, allowing the grapes to ripen better than in the valley. Wines from the north are somewhat more complex and structured than those from the south. This is largely due to the soil structure. In the south, the soil consists of calcareous clay and loam. In the north, it consists primarily of granite and manganese. The latter creates excellent conditions for quality wines.

Quality wines from Beaujolais

In Beaujolais, there are actually only two grape varieties grown. The white wines are rare, but may only be made from the Chardonnay grape. The red wines are produced from the Gamay grape and are always harvested by hand. One of the finest wines from this region is undoubtedly the Domaine Piron Morgon La Chanaise. This Cru wine possesses such richness and finesse. Beautiful, full, ripe bunches create a unique wine with a wild bouquet of forest fruit, lavender, strawberry, and vanilla on the nose. The palate is full and rounded with fine, stimulating tannins, making this wine challenging to drink.