Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration at Matthews House

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Daniel Agostini.

Cary, NC – At midnight on the third Thursday of November each year, Beaujolais vineyards in France release Beaujolais Nouveau, a young red wine aged for only a few weeks.  The event is met with great fanfare and the resounding declaration, “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” 

5th Annual Beaujolais Wine Tasting

Here in Cary, the Sister Cities Association will be celebrating their 5th year marking this occasion with a wine tasting. In partnership with the Wake Tech Culinary Arts Department, and  Total Wine, the 5th annual Beaujolais Wine Tasting will take place on Friday, November 18 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Matthews House in downtown Cary.

Barbara Shepherd of the Sister Cities Association says,

“Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local phenomenon in the local bars, cafes and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons.  It was wine made quickly to drink while the better Beaujolais wine was taking a more leisurely course to age in its’ casks. Our French sister city, Le Touquet, toasts the Nouveau wines, but they are more interested in the good wines that are produced by the traditional aging process.”

Proceeds from this year’s Beaujolais celebration will support the Sister Cities Association’s youth exchange program with Cary’s Sister City Le Touquet, France, and the Wake Tech Culinary Arts program’s annual culinary exchange with Le Touquet.  The youth exchange program allows Le Touquet teens to spend two weeks in Cary with host families and learn about the culture, and history of Cary and the surrounding area.  The culinary exchange program allows students in the Wake Tech Culinary Arts program to spend time in France and study at the Le Touquet Culinary School.

Total  Wine of Cary is providing a Beaujolais Nouveau wine, two Beaujolais cru wines, and a white wine. The Wake Tech Culinary Arts Department, under the direction of Jeff Hadley, will pair the wine with an exquisite selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres with a French flavor.

This Year’s Food Selection

• Terrine of Duck with Pistachios with Cranberry Chutney
• Woodland Mushroom Terrine with Horseradish Cream
• Pork Rillette on Toasted Baguettes
• Cured Meat and Sausage Platter

Tickets include a souvenir wine glass, tasting of the three Beaujolais wines, two glasses of wine at the “Wine bar,” and a continuous supply of hors d’oeuvres.

For Tickets

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at Beaujolais Wine.