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Beaujolais

France

Beaujolais

BeaujolaisBeaujolais

France wine regions

About Beaujolais

Beaujolais is Gamay country. Just south of Burgundy, the rolling granite hills between Lyon and Mâcon produce some of France's most joyful, food-friendly reds. The region is structured as a quality pyramid: at the base, Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages offer fresh, fruity wines for immediate drinking. At the top, ten named crus (Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Côte de Brouilly, Brouilly, Chiroubles, Juliénas, Saint-Amour, Régnié, and Chénas) each express distinct terroir personalities, from the granite-powered structure of Moulin-à-Vent to the silky perfume of Fleurie. A new generation of natural wine producers has revived interest in old-vine Gamay, showing the grape can produce serious, age-worthy wines.

193–544 m

Elevation range

redroséwhite

Wine styles

11 Appellations

Avg. slope 2.4°

Vintages

15 · 2009–2023

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009
Red

Outstanding Beaujolais Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2023

Ready
90Excellent
2025Peak 2027–20302031

2022

At peak
92Excellent
2024Peak 2026–20302032

2020

At peak
95Exceptional
2022Peak 2025–20322035

2019

At peak
91Excellent
2021Peak 2024–20282030

2018

At peak
92Excellent
2020Peak 2023–20282030

2015

At peak
94Excellent
2017Peak 2020–20282030

2010

Past window
92Excellent
2012Peak 2014–20202022

2009

Past window
91Excellent
2011Peak 2013–20182020

Crus & Appellations

Classification System

Beaujolais uses a three-tier system based on geography. The 10 named crus in the north produce the most complex and age-worthy Gamay.

Cru

10 named villages: Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, Fleurie, and 7 others

Beaujolais-Villages

38 communes in the northern hills with better terroir

Beaujolais AOC

Regional appellation, mostly from the flatter south

What Beaujolais produces

Red

100% Gamay, from joyful Nouveau to serious cru villages like Morgon and Fleurie.

Regional appellations

Beaujolais AOC

The regional appellation covering the whole area. Light, fruity Gamay from the southern plains.

Beaujolais-Villages

A step up from regional Beaujolais, from 38 named communes in the northern hills.

Beaujolais Nouveau

Released on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after harvest. Made by carbonic maceration.

Coteaux Bourguignons

A cross-regional AOC shared with Burgundy, allowing blends of Gamay with Pinot Noir.

Grapes of Beaujolais

Chardonnay

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemonpearnectarine

Makes Beaujolais Blanc and Saint-Véran, crisp mineral whites from the southern Mâconnais border

Gamay

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
raspberryred cherryplumcranberry

Granite-grown Gamay, vibrant and floral. The crus tell different stories: Fleurie light and perfumed, Morgon dense and cherry-rich, Moulin-à-Vent serious and ageable.

Climate

continentalwarm summerscold winters

Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, moderated by the Saône River valley. The climate creates ideal conditions for Gamay, allowing the grapes to ripen fully while maintaining the bright acidity that makes these wines so food-friendly and refreshing.

Terroir

granitelimestone

The region splits into two distinct zones: the northern granite hills of the crus with thin, poor soils that stress vines into producing concentrated fruit, and the southern plains with richer clay-limestone soils perfect for lighter, everyday wines. This granite foundation is crucial – it drains well and reflects heat, helping Gamay develop its signature bright fruit character.

Typical Aromas

red cherryraspberryvioletbananawhite peppergranite minerality
Explore the aroma wheel

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Languedoc-Roussillon

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Loire Valley

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Beaujolais wine special?▼
Beaujolais is unique because it uses a special winemaking technique called carbonic maceration, where whole grape clusters ferment in a carbon dioxide environment. This creates those signature bright, fruity flavors with low tannins that make Beaujolais so food-friendly and easy to drink. The region's granite soils and the Gamay grape variety work perfectly together to produce wines that are fresh, vibrant, and meant to be enjoyed young.
What are the best Beaujolais vintages?▼
For regular Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages, recent vintages like 2020, 2019, and 2018 are drinking beautifully right now. If you're looking at the premium Cru Beaujolais (like Moulin-à-Vent or Morgon), 2015, 2016, and 2017 were exceptional years that still have great aging potential. Generally though, most Beaujolais is made to drink within 2-4 years of the vintage.
What grapes are grown in Beaujolais?▼
Beaujolais is almost entirely Gamay - it makes up about 99% of the red wine production and is really the heart and soul of the region. There's also a tiny bit of white wine made from Chardonnay and Aligoté, but when people talk about Beaujolais, they're talking about Gamay.
What food pairs well with Beaujolais wines?▼
Beaujolais is incredibly food-friendly because of its bright acidity and low tannins. It's fantastic with charcuterie, roasted chicken, salmon, mushroom dishes, and anything with herbs like thyme or rosemary. The classic pairing is with French bistro fare, but it also works surprisingly well with spicy Asian cuisine and even works chilled with summer barbecues.
How does Beaujolais compare to other major wine regions?▼
Beaujolais sits between Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, and it's much more approachable than either - both in price and style. While Burgundy focuses on elegant, complex Pinot Noir that can be intimidating, Beaujolais offers immediate pleasure with its juicy, fruit-forward Gamay wines. It's less structured than Bordeaux, less powerful than the Rhône, making it perfect for everyday drinking without sacrificing quality.

Map data: INAO