Beaujolais Wine Region Guide

The Joyful Side of French Wine

Beaujolais sits just south of Burgundy in eastern France, yet it could not be more different in character. Where Burgundy prizes restraint and complexity, Beaujolais celebrates vibrancy, fruit, and sheer drinkability. Built almost entirely on the Gamay grape, this region produces some of France’s most approachable and food-friendly red wines. Despite its reputation for the light, fruity Beaujolais Nouveau released each November, the region’s serious wines from its ten Cru villages rival many of France’s finest reds in depth and ageability.

The 10 Crus of Beaujolais

The heart of Beaujolais lies in its ten named Cru villages, each with a distinct personality shaped by granite-based soils and varying exposures:

• Morgon - Powerful and structured, often compared to Burgundy, with deep cherry and stone fruit
• Fleurie - The most elegant Cru, with floral aromatics and silky texture
• Moulin-a-Vent - The most age-worthy, developing Pinot Noir-like complexity over time
• Brouilly - The largest Cru, producing generous, approachable wines
• Cote de Brouilly - More concentrated than Brouilly, from steep hillside vineyards
• Chenas - The smallest Cru, with spicy, structured wines
• Chiroubles - High-altitude vineyards producing delicate, perfumed reds
• Julienas - Rich and full-bodied, bridging power and finesse
• Regnie - Light and fruity, ideal for early drinking
• Saint-Amour - Charming, medium-bodied wines with soft tannins

Carbonic Maceration and Winemaking

Beaujolais is famous for carbonic maceration, a technique where whole grape clusters ferment in a carbon dioxide atmosphere before pressing. This process extracts vivid fruit flavors and color while minimizing harsh tannins, creating the region’s signature juicy, aromatic style. While Beaujolais Nouveau relies heavily on this technique for immediate drinkability, top Cru producers often use partial or traditional fermentation to build more structure and aging potential.

Granite Soils and Terroir

The northern Cru villages sit on ancient granite and schist soils that lend a mineral backbone to the wines. These well-drained, nutrient-poor soils force vines to dig deep, producing concentrated fruit with a distinctive stony undertone. In the southern Beaujolais, clay and limestone dominate, yielding softer, more immediately approachable wines.

Why Beaujolais Matters for Wine Lovers

Beaujolais represents one of the wine world’s greatest values. The Cru villages deliver serious, terroir-expressive wines at a fraction of the cost of neighboring Burgundy. For anyone seeking elegant, food-versatile reds that can be enjoyed young or aged, Beaujolais is essential drinking.

Explore Beaujolais with Sommo

Use the Sommo app to scan Beaujolais wines and instantly learn about the Cru village, vintage, and winemaking style. Build your knowledge of this essential wine region one bottle at a time.