Hosted by the Heathman Hotel and presented by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Française of Portland, the Beaujolais Nouveau Festival is the largest event of its kind on the West coast. It’s a celebration of the recent grape harvest throughout the northern hemisphere. In fact, it’s such a big deal in France that a law stipulates that no Beaujolais can be sold before midnight on the third Thursday of November.
Made from the Gamay grape, these wines are bottled only weeks after harvest. Tasting young Beaujolais is also a wonderful way to get a sneak peek at what the vintage will become. Wine lovers will find them very fruity and light– an excellent complement with many foods and cheeses.
“Bottled and sold just six to eight weeks after harvest, Beaujolais Nouveau is a novelty that comes with neither rules nor aging requirements,” said James Rahn, sommelier at the Heathman Restaurant & Bar. “This young wine is celebrated for its playful and vibrant fruit-forward notes.”
The menu for the evening is French-inspired and event attendees will have a wide assortment of delicious foods to pair with their Beaujolais wine; from imported cheeses and charcuterie, to Sylvie grass-fed beef and roast pig, along with many decadent desserts. Unique wine and food pairings are encouraged so consider trying some combinations you might not attempt at home. You could just discover a new perfect pairing.
Besides several of the most famous Beaujolais Nouveau wine producers, this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau Festival also includes craft cocktails made with vodka and cognac from two well-known distilleries, Hardy Cognac and Balinoff Vodka. Expect to be entertained by master of ceremonies, KGW News anchor Russ Lewis, who will be organizing fun games and raffles over the course of the evening. Please see below for a complete list of participating wineries.
In it’s thirteenth year, the Beaujolais Nouveau Festival is very popular so get your tickets today, before the event sells out.
Who: Presented by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Française of Portland
What: 13th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Festival
Where: Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway, Portland, OR
Map to the Heathman Hotel: https://goo.gl/maps/c37k6
When: 6-10PM on Friday, November 21, 2014
Buy tickets: $70 per person and can be purchased by visiting the Beaujolais Nouveau website, register directly online, email info@afportland.org or by calling 503.223.8388
Participating Wineries and Distilleries:
