The Wines of Beaujolais

A timely book on a once underrated French wine region. Natasha Hughes MW guides readers through the region, demonstrating that there is as much to get excited about in Burgundy’s southernmost outpost as there is in the north. The growing prices of wines from northern Burgundy have put them out of the reach of many wine lovers and attention has turned instead to Beaujolais, where food-friendly wines with freshness and perfume can be found in increasing number. As the wines have become fashionable, producers from outside of Beaujolais have been drawn to the region, leading to further investment in producing quality wines.

Hughes begins with a brief history of Beaujolais, examining how the region came to focus on red wines and why Gamay is the only red grape grown there. She charts the rise and fall of Beaujolais Noveau and examines the parts played by negociants and boutique producers as well as looking at the growing importance of natural wine for the region.