Beaujolais nouveau is here in Kansas City
By OWEN MORRIS
In the Pitch Forks newsletter this week I mentioned two wine events, one being the release of Beaujolais nouveau, which happens tomorrow as it does every year on the third Thursday of November.
A quick primer:
Beaujolais Day is an annual event celebrated all over the world to mark the end of the grape season in the Beaujolais region of France. The wine produced from these grapes is a red (gamay but don't expect much typical gamay taste) that's only a few weeks old and often chilled. In other words, it's closer to a rosé than a typical red.
To be perfectly honest, Beaujolais day is essentially the wine version of Valentine's Day: a not-too-real holiday pumped up by marketers to sell more product. The fact that the Paris Casino in Las Vegas is lighting its Eiffel Tower red in celebration of the day while the actual Eiffel Tower remains unchanged tells you all you need to know.
Most serious wine drinkers turn up their noses at Beaujolais nouveau but if you enjoy drinking wine and having a good time then there's no reason not to celebrate. Much like bowling or visiting Branson, it's something everyone should do at least once just for the experience.
Boozefish wine bar at 15th and Westport Road is having a Beaujolais bash starting at 4:30 p.m. The Beaujolais will be flowing, along with French-themed appetizers and a special menu. The party lasts until midnight.
For a more serious, upscale event, Parkville's Cafe Des Amis has a special Beaujolais nouveau menu costing $39 per person and featuring three courses in addition to a tasting of Beaujolais noveau. Here's a link to the menu.
Bon Beaujolais!
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