One Beaujolais can hide… eleven others! Officially recognized in 1937, the Beaujolais appellation is often associated with the unmissable Beaujolais Nouveau celebration, held on the third Thursday of November. But Beaujolais is above all 12 appellations and 10 crus, each boasting a rich and diverse character. Les Grappes invites you to discover this exceptional wine region.
Spotlight on Beaujolais
The Beaujolais vineyard stretches for 55 kilometers, from Mâcon to Lyon. It covers two departments (Rhône and Saône-et-Loire) and a great diversity of terroirs and landscapes.
A single-varietal region, Beaujolais offers Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc , a cousin of Pinot Noir, a fantastic playground. This emblematic grape of the region yields a wide variety of red wines, which represent 95% of production. But Beaujolais also produces excellent rosé (Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc) and white (Chardonnay) wines under the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages appellations.
The Beaujolais wine region boasts 12 appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOCs). More precisely, 2 regional appellations ( Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages ) and 10 crus:
- Brouilly
- Côte de Brouilly
- Chénas
- Chiroubles
- Flowery
- Julienas
- Morgon
- Windmill
- Regnie
- Saint-Amour
Identity card of the 12 Beaujolais appellations
The two regional appellations: Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages
Beaujolais
The largest of the Beaujolais appellations covers 3,930 hectares, mainly in the south and east of the region. In addition to Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc, which produces red and rosé wines, there are also plots of Chardonnay that yield fresh and fruity white wines.
Red wines
- Dress : carmine
- Nose : aromas of small red fruits and spices
- Palate : Beaujolais wines are seductive, delicious and accessible, appreciated for their freshness.
- Food and wine pairings : charcuterie, roast pork, poultry, mild cheeses
- When to drink them? Beaujolais wines are best enjoyed young, within the first two years after bottling.
White wines
- Dress : from crystalline to gold
- Nose : white-fleshed fruits, citrus
- Palate : here again, freshness and deliciousness are the key words. Fruity and saline, Beaujolais whites offer a full palate and a pleasant finish.
Rosé wines
- Dress : beautiful bright color
- Nose : red fruits and citrus
- Palate : Beaujolais rosés, like the reds, are easy to drink and very fresh. They are charming, delicate and easy-drinking.
Discover our selection of Beaujolais wines
Beaujolais-Villages
On the hillsides, the vines of the Beaujolais-Villages appellation grow in the south of Beaujolais and along the Saône, on the steepest slopes of the vineyard. A third of the appellation consists of so-called primeur wines, that is to say, wines marketed in the same year as the harvest, and to be consumed quickly: the famous Beaujolais Nouveau!
Red wines
- Dress : cherry red ranging to garnet
- Nose : intense, with aromas of red fruits, black cherry and wild berries
- Palate : Harmonious and straightforward on the palate, Beaujolais Villages wines are more complex and structured than Beaujolais. The lightness of the tannins does not prevent a beautiful length on the palate.
- Food and wine pairings : charcuterie, grilled and roasted meats, mild cheeses
- When to drink them? It is recommended to consume them quickly, within two to three years, but some wines nevertheless have a good aging potential.
White wines
- Dress : pale yellow
- Nose : floral and mineral notes
- Palate : the Beaujolais-Villages appellation offers fresh, delicate and saline white wines
Rosé wines
- Coat : clear and bright color
- Nose : fruity and fresh
- Palate : Expressive and fruity, Beaujolais-Villages rosés are intense, fruity and fragrant, with a lovely freshness
Discover our selection of Beaujolais-Villages wines
An overview of the 10 Beaujolais crus, from north to south
Saint-Amour
The most romantic of the Beaujolais crus owes its name to a Roman soldier, Amor. It is unique in being one of the smallest crus in the region, covering only 33 hectares. Unsurprisingly, Saint-Amour wines sell particularly well around Valentine's Day!
- Dress : deep purple
- Nose : When young, Saint-Amour reveals fruity aromas (raspberry, blackcurrant, apricot) and floral notes (rose, iris, peony). As it ages, aromas of spice and kirsch will develop.
- Palate : Saint-Amour wines are known for their fruity, tender, and harmonious body. Depending on the soil, however, Saint-Amour will be light and fruity, or more powerful and complex.
- Food and wine pairing : charcuterie, grilled red meats, roasted white meats, poultry, cheeses.
- When to drink them? The lightest Saint-Amour wines can be drunk from their first year; the more structured ones can be enjoyed after a few years.
Discover our selection of Saint-Amour wines
Julienas
The northernmost appellation of Beaujolais spans no fewer than two departments (Rhône and Saône-et-Loire) and four communes (Juliénas, Jullié, Puzilly, and Emeringes). It is the least granitic of the ten crus, but the one that benefits from one of the greatest soil diversities: schist, diorite, sandstone, and clay.
- Color : deep and intense ruby
- Nose : aromas of peach, red fruits (strawberry, redcurrant), flowers (violet, peony)
- Palate : the Juliénas cru offers expressive, fresh and fleshy wines.
- Food and wine pairing : duck confit, roasted red meats, game, poultry in sauce, cheeses.
- When to drink them? Juliénas wines can be enjoyed both young and after a few years of aging.
Discover our selection of Juliénas wines
Chénas
The rarest of the Beaujolais crus extends across the rolling hills surrounding the neighboring appellation, Moulin-à-Vent. It is the smallest vineyard in Beaujolais, but the generosity of its wines makes it a great appellation.
- Dress : ruby tinged with garnet
- Nose : floral, fruity (red fruits) and spicy notes.
- Palate : Chénas wines are powerful, generous, structured and tender on the palate.
- Food and wine pairing : charcuterie, poultry, mild cheeses.
- When to drink them? Chénas wines have good aging potential; they will develop their aromas after 3 or 4 years after bottling.
Discover our selection of Chénas wines
Windmill
This appellation owes its name to… a windmill that overlooks the vineyards from its 278-meter height. Now a listed historical monument, this 15th-century windmill is the emblem of the appellation. Grown on predominantly sandy granite soils, Moulin-à-Vent wines are structured and complex, with excellent aging potential.
- Color : the color of this appellation is deep, from ruby to garnet.
- Nose : Floral and fruity in the early years, with aromas of violet and cherry. As they age, Moulin à Vent wines gain complexity and develop aromas of flowers, spices, ripe fruit, and undergrowth.
- On the palate : the reputation of the Moulin à Vent appellation lies in its elegance. Its wines are at once refined, powerful and complex.
- Food and wine pairing : roasted red meats, game, strong cheeses.
- When to drink them? The Moulin à vent appellation has great aging potential, from ten years or even more depending on the vintage.
Discover our selection of Moulin à Vent wines
Flowery
This appellation, named after a Roman legionary, is one of the best known and most highly regarded. The vineyards stretch across the commune of Fleurie and through hills and valleys, overlooked by the Chapel of the Madonna, built in the 1870s and an emblem of the wine. The Fleurie appellation is unique in that its soils are primarily rooted in pink granite, which enhances its distinctive terroir.
- Dress : carmine red
- Nose : Floral aromas of iris, violet and rose, with fruity accents of red berries and peach. With age, spicier notes emerge.
- Palate : velvety, elegant and refined wines, with a frank attack and a fleshy body.
- Food and wine pairing : charcuterie, white meats, roast veal, mild cheeses.
- When to drink them? On average, within 5 years. Wines from the lower slopes, with their deeper, clay-rich soil, have good aging potential. You can keep them for about ten years.
Discover our selection of Fleurie wines
Chiroubles
The highest vineyards in Beaujolais, towering at heights of up to 400 meters, produce a wine typical of Beaujolais, fruity and lively.
- Dress : light, ruby red
- Nose: Floral aromas of peony, lily of the valley, iris, and violet. There are also notes of red fruit.
- Palate : Chiroubles wines are supple, expressive and delicious, with a lovely freshness on the palate.
- Food and wine pairing : charcuterie, poultry, pork, mild cheeses
- When to drink them? Don't wait too long to open your bottle: Chiroubles is best consumed young, before 5 years after bottling.
Discover our selection of Chiroubles wines
Morgon
The second largest appellation after Brouilly, with no less than 1,100 hectares of vines, the Morgon appellation offers gamay a great diversity of soils.
- Dress : deep garnet
- Nose : aromas of kirsch, ripe stone fruits (cherry, plum, peach, apricot…). With age, Morgon develops spicier aromas.
- Palate : Dense, fleshy, and powerful, Morgon wines offer a beautiful complexity. As they age, they are said to "morgonize" and develop the brandy aromas that give them their distinctive character.
- Food and wine pairing : Roasted red meats, poultry, cheeses.
- When to drink them? Morgon wines have great aging potential and can be kept for ten years, or even longer.
Discover our selection of Morgon wines
Regnie
The youngest of the Beaujolais crus, recognized in 1988, has nothing to envy in its elders! Rich and supple, the wines of Régnié seduce with their freshness and length on the palate.
- Dress : bright cherry red
- Nose : red and black fruits: redcurrant, blackberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, which may take on spicy nuances.
- Palate : The Gamay here is light, fresh, and easy-drinking, with supple tannins. The wines of Régnié are nonetheless elegant and structured.
- Food and wine pairing : grilled red meats, roasted white meats, cheeses.
- When to drink them? Régnié wines are best enjoyed young, but can be kept for a few years.
Discover our selection of Régnié wines
Côte de Brouilly
Located on the sunny slopes of Mont Brouilly, the Côte de Brouilly vines take root in volcanic rock, the “blue stone”. This unique terroir gives these wines mineral and spicy flavors, and a beautiful aromatic complexity.
- Dress : from purple to garnet
- Nose : fresh grapes, red and black fruits, iris, hints of spice
- Palate : Côte de Brouilly wines are both lively and structured, with a long finish.
- Food and wine pairings : rib of beef, roasted red meats, medium-strength cheeses.
- When to drink them? Côte de Brouilly wines have the particularity of aging well; it is therefore possible to keep them for about ten years, but they will reach their peak after 5 or 6 years.
Discover our selection of Côte de Brouilly wines
Brouilly
With its 1,330 hectares of vineyards, it is the largest cru in Beaujolais. It is also the southernmost, which gives its wines a full-bodied character and a beautiful deep color.
- Dress : deep ruby
- Nose : red fruits, fresh and raspberry at the forefront.
- Palate : Brouilly wines are easy to approach, fruity, supple and round.
- Food and wine pairings : charcuterie, starters, roast poultry, grilled meats, cheeses.
- When to drink them? Within a year of the harvest
