To celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day—the third Thursday in November—I wanted to share some insights into Beaujolais as a region. There’s a lot more here than just the fresh, early-released Nouveau. From the different styles and quality levels to the geography, history, and people who have shaped it, this overview gives some context to what makes Beaujolais unique and why this annual celebration matters. Geography: Beaujolais vs Villages vs Cru Beaujolais Beaujolais sits between Burgundy to the...

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of hosting a dinner at Searcy’s St Pancras in London to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Crémant de Loire , the traditional-method sparkling wine of the Loire Valley. Created in 1975, the appellation recognises the region’s long heritage of bottle-fermented wines and now covers more than 3,000 hectares across Anjou-Saumur and Touraine. With 610 producers and exports to over 90 countries, Crémant de Loire has quietly become France’s second most important...

Wine consumption in France has dropped 90% since the 1970s—are young drinkers reshaping the country’s wine culture forever?