Beaujolais wine region French wine region guide: location, history, appellations, grapes & food
Beaujolais is the home of the Gamay grape, a region of rolling granite hills producing fruity, joyful red wines, from Beaujolais Nouveau to the ten structured crus such as Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent.
More info about the Beaujolais wine region
Geographic position
Eastern France, just south of Burgundy, mainly in the Rhône department with a small part in Saône-et-Loire, stretching about 55 km between Mâcon and Lyon, west of the Saône river.
Origin & history
The Romans planted vines here, and the region takes its name from the lords of Beaujeu. In 1395 Duke Philip the Bold banned Gamay from Burgundy, so it flourished in Beaujolais instead. Lyon became its main market, and from the 1970s Beaujolais Nouveau, released on the third Thursday of November, became a worldwide event.
Main appellations & varieties
Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages and the ten crus: Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly. Gamay Noir makes almost all the wine, with a little Chardonnay for whites.
Food specialties
Lyon bouchon classics such as saucisson, andouillette, quenelles and salade lyonnaise, Bresse chicken, Charolais beef, cervelle de canut cheese spread, and praline tart.