What Menu with a Beaujolais Nouveau? Our Inspirations!
This year, its release date is set for Thursday, November 21. Its fruity personality remains synonymous with conviviality, vintage after vintage. We are, of course, talking about the Beaujolais Nouveau 2024, whose bottles are eagerly awaited by all wine enthusiasts… The most famous of young wines easily sets the tone for lunches or dinners, from appetizers to desserts. So, follow us to get plenty of food and wine pairing ideas, and create a delicious menu with the Beaujolais Nouveau from Château de Corcelles!
Better Understanding Beaujolais Nouveaux to Perfect Your Meal
To start, it’s always good to remember what constitutes the essence of these essential new wines. Why? Because the specifics of their production directly influence their aromatic profile and, by extension, their range of pairings.
Beaujolais Nouveaux are revealed just a few weeks after the end of the manual harvest of the Gamay Noir, a Beaujolais grape with black skin and white juice. This legal requirement imposes a relatively short vinification time on winemakers. Moreover, producers cannot rely on extended aging to enhance certain organoleptic qualities of their wine, as they might with a Beaujolais-Villages, a Morgon, a Fleurie, or a Brouilly.
These Beaujolais wines generally reveal a smooth palate, subtle tannins, and refreshing fruity notes. At Château de Corcelles, in particular, the diligent work of our team in the vineyard and cellar brings to life a Beaujolais Nouveau full of tenderness, both light and delightful: a beautiful glimpse of the craftsmanship behind our other wines, which you can come and taste at our estate, in the heart of the Beaujolais vineyard.
What to Eat with a Beaujolais Nouveau for an Aperitif?
Beaujolais Nouveau tasting naturally goes hand in hand with an aperitif among friends or family. This ritual has even become one of the pillars of the Beaujolais Nouveau celebration, in France and around the world.
The fruity and warm roundness of this wine makes it the perfect companion for delicious products to share, such as generous boards of fine charcuterie and aromatic cheeses. Other specialties of the French terroir can be added, like a pork terrine from Beaujolais.
If you’re more in the mood to cook, tapas with peppers and chorizo will form a pleasant duo with your bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau. And for the gourmands, why not indulge in some mini homemade croque-monsieur, combining fresh seeded bread, Tomme de Savoie, and truffle ham: irresistible!
What Starter to Choose for a Primeur Wine Pairing?
Far from being limited to an aperitif, Beaujolais Nouveau also gracefully accompanies the entire meal… starting with the starter! For this, what could be better than a French recipe as iconic as the wine itself, such as Eggs Benedict? Served on soft English muffins and enhanced with a few bacon chips or thin slices of avocado, it will simply complement the lightness of your new wine.
Looking for more daring pairings for your Beaujolais Nouveau meal? Feel free to opt for starters with Asian influences, like some meat spring rolls or fresh spring rolls. Another option to surprise your guests: oysters accompanied by a preparation made from finely chopped shallots and red wine vinegar! Their briny taste perfectly matches the freshness and fruitiness of Beaujolais Nouveaux…
What Main Course Ideas with a New Beaujolais Wine?
An infinite number of possibilities are available to you when pairing Beaujolais Nouveau with a main course, from the most casual to the most elaborate. Among them, a homemade fish & chips ranks high. With its cod, creamy tartar sauce, and a delicious glass of wine, it will delight the taste buds of your loved ones.
A beautiful piece of red meat, like a properly seared rib-eye steak, is, of course, one of the classics to keep in mind. On the vegetarian side, but just as delicious? An autumnal pizza with pumpkin, red onions, and burrata! With a Beaujolais Nouveau, this recipe will harmoniously echo the wine’s release season…
For Dessert, How to End Your Menu with a Beaujolais Nouveau on a High Note?
Beaujolais Nouveau for the sweet note of the meal? Absolutely! Epicureans can plan an exquisite chocolate fondant for their dessert plate: the bitterness of the cocoa will ideally balance the smoothness of the red wine with its melted tannins. Some pastries and fruit treats, like a red fruit cheesecake or a poached pear, are also excellent choices…
We hope these menu suggestions with our Beaujolais Nouveau have already whetted your appetite. After impressing with your cooking skills, we also have some little-known anecdotes about the arrival of this primeur wine to help you wow your future guests…