Note: The LCBO is offering nine nouveau wines for sale this year, including The Fool Gamay from Reif Estates in Ontario (the picture above is from the 2010 vintage), at more than 400 stores on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 starting at 9:30 a.m. Here is the release from the LCBO.
The annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau and other nouveau wines on the third Thursday of November is celebrated around the world at restaurants and “nouveau” parties, and heralds the first wines of the year’s harvest. Nouveau wines are traditionally one of the LCBO’s fastest-selling products with most of the stock sold out in three to four weeks.
“It’s a fun tradition every November on the third Thursday to raise a glass of nouveau to salute the first wines of the season and the completion of the harvest,” said Tony D’Alessio, LCBO Product Manager for European Wines. “We’re pleased to offer these wines at more than 400 LCBO stores so customers across Ontario can participate in the festivities.”
This year, in addition to an Ontario gamay nouveau, LCBO is offering six French and two Italian nouveau-style wines. While some 11,000 cases will be distributed across Ontario, each LCBO store receives a limited quantity so customers are advised to shop early for the best selection.
The nouveau wines being offered this year are as follows:
LCBO Wines category
Ontario
• Reif Estates The Fool Gamay Nouveau VQA, 750 mL, $10.95
France
• Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau, 750 mL, $13.95
• Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau, 750 mL, $8.95
• Primeur Syrah Merlot, 750 mL, $9.95
• Jeanjean Syrah Primeur, 750 mL, $9.95
Italy
• Novello Rosso Terre Di Chieti, 750 mL, $8.95
• Negrar Novello del Veneto IGT, 750 mL, $9.95
In Vintages fine wine and premium spirits sections at select LCBO stores:
France
• Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 750 mL, $14.95
• Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 750 mL, $14.95
The nouveau wine tradition started in the vineyards of France’s Beaujolais region more than 100 years ago when local winemakers developed a quick maturing wine to celebrate the completion of the harvest with their workers. The result was a fresh, fruity wine that they called Beaujolais Nouveau or Beaujolais Primeur. News of this tradition spread and the annual release of nouveau wines eventually became an international celebration.
In the 1980s, Italy also began exporting nouveau-style wines, called vino novello, and Ontario has produced gamay nouveau wines in some years.
“The annual nouveau release brings a sense of fun into the sometimes too serious world of wine enjoyment,” said D’Alessio. “These wines are light-bodied, fresh, fruity wines to be enjoyed in the spirit of celebration. What better way to brighten up a grey November day.”
Nouveau wines are best served slightly chilled and matched with lighter foods such as appetizers. To enjoy their fresh, fruity character at its best, the wines are best consumed young, although they will hold their flavor and freshness for holiday celebrations and match well with turkey.
For more information on the 2011 nouveau wines and participating stores, customers can call helloLCBO (formerly LCBO Contact Centre) at 1-800-ONT-LCBO (668-5226). In Toronto, call 416 365-5900, visit your nearest LCBO store or go online to hellolcbo.com. The TTY number for people who are deaf or hard of hearing is 416 864-6898 or 1-800-361-3291.
I am a HUGE supporter of local wines and constantly pouring them for my friends, BUT this Gamay nouveau from Reif is not a good wine..I cannot believe that the board picked this wine to be released. Undrinkable…and yes I do like nouveaus as well as Niagara Gamay’s …no predjudice here…