Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 Is Almost Here!

Join us at the Golden Lion as we join the celebration for the 18th year! Thursday November 19!
Reservations suggested. Call at 386-439-3004.

For more information about the event, visit the Golden Lion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=320682100493&index=1

Click here for the menu: http://www.goldenlioncafe.com/2009/11/beaujolais-menu-has-arrived.html


Highlights from last year at Flagler's Most Awarded Restaurant:



What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

At one past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, from little villages and towns like Romanèche-Thorins, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" One of the most frivolous and animated rituals in the wine world has begun.

By the time it is over, over 65 million bottles, nearly half of the region's total annual production, will be distributed and drunk around the world. It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve to this new wine of the harvest. In doing so, it has been carried by motorcycle, balloon, truck, helicopter, Concorde jet, elephant, runners and rickshaws to get it to its final destination. It is amazing to realize that just weeks before this wine was a cluster of grapes in a growers vineyard. But by an expeditious harvest, a rapid fermentation, and a speedy bottling, all is ready at the midnight hour. By French law, Beaujolais Nouveau is to be released no earlier than the third Thursday of November.

Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local phenomenon in the local bars, cafes, and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons. Each fall the new Beaujolais would arrive with much fanfare. In pitchers filled from the growers barrels, wine was drunk by an eager population. It was wine made fast to drink while the better Beaujolais was taking a more leisurely course.

Beaujolais Nouveau is as about as close to white wine as a red wine can get. Due to the way it is made -the must is pressed early after only three days- the phenolic compounds, in particular the astringent tannins, normally found in red wines, isn't there, leaving an easy to drink, fruity wine. This, coupled with the fact that it tastes best when chilled, makes for a festive wine to be gulped rather than sipped, enjoyed in high spirits rather than critiqued. As a side note, it makes a great transitional wine for anyone wanting to move from white to red wines.

Finally, the race from grape to glass may be silly, but half the fun is knowing that on the same night, in homes, restaurants,cafes, pubs, bars and bistros around the world, the same celebration is taking place.

Party with a Floribbean Twist! Live music from PepperPot, a steel drum duo. Don't miss this once a year event!

Click www.duboeufnouveau.com for more news about Beaujolais Nouveau 2009!

Beaujolais Menu Has Arrived!

Featuring your choice of four entrees, best enjoyed with a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau!

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU DINNER & CELEBRATION

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009

Le starter ……… OLIVES AND ROASTED GARLIC

Le Appetizer ……. SHRIMP & CRAB BISQUE

Shrimp and crab in a rich brandy cream broth topped with crème fraiche.

OR
SALAD NICOISE

Mixed greens with chilled shrimp, cooked eggs, olives and tomatoes.


Le Main Course ……. BEEF BOURGUIGNON

All day braised sirloin in a rich Beaujolais sauce with pearl onions.

OR

COQ AU VIN

Bone-in chicken breast simmered in a flavorful Beaujolais sauce with fresh mushrooms.

OR

LAMB SHANK

Fall off the bone lamb cooked in Beaujolais wine with country vegetables.

OR

FRESH SALMON

Grilled filet with Beaujolais balsamic glaze.



ALL ENTREES SERVED WITH BURNT BUTTERED WHIPPED POTATOES AND FRESH GREEN BEANS.



Le Afters …….. VERY BERRY CREPES

Sweet Beaujolais macerated berries in soft vanilla crepes with fresh dairy cream.



Le Damage ……..……………………………………. $23.00



FEATURING Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Wine

By the glass …. $4.75 or By the bottle ………$17.95


RESERVATIONS ENCOURAGED

Click www.duboeufnouveau.com for more news about Beaujolais Nouveau 2009!

10 Facts About Beaujolais Nouveau

1. Beaujolais [BOE-zjoh-lay] Nouveau is always released the third Thursday of November, regardless of the start of the harvest.

2. The region of Beaujolais is 34 miles long from north to south and 7 to 9 miles wide. There are nearly 4,000 grape growers who make their living in this picturesque region just north of France's third largest city, Lyon.

3. All the grapes in the Beaujolais region must be picked by hand. These are the only vineyards, along with Champagne, where hand harvesting is mandatory.
Find Beaujolais Nouveau:
- Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
- Collin-Bourisset Beaujolais Nouveau
- More Beaujolais Nouveau Producers

4. Gamay (Gamay noir Jus Blanc) is the only grape permitted for Beaujolais. While certain California wineries may label their wine "Gamay Beaujolais" this is not the same grape variety as what is grown in France, and is quite different in taste and growing habits.

5. Beaujolais Nouveau cannot be made from grapes grown in the 10 crus (great growths) of Beaujolais-only from grapes coming from the appellations of Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages.

6. Beaujolais Nouveau owes its easy drinkability to a winemaking process called carbonic maceration, also called whole berry fermentation. This technique preserves the fresh, fruity quality of the wine, without extracting bitter tannins from the grape skins.

7. Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be drunk young-in average vintages it should be consumed by the following May after its release. However, in excellent vintages (such as 2000) the wine can live much longer and can be enjoyed until the next harvest rolls around.

8. Serve Beaujolais Nouveau slightly cool, at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit-the wine is more refreshing and its forward fruit more apparent than if you serve it at room temperature.

9. Approximately 1/3 of the entire crop of the Beaujolais region is sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.

10. The region of Beaujolais is known for its fabulous food. The famed Paul Bocuse Restaurant is just minutes from the heart of Beaujolais, as is Georges Blanc's eponymous culinary temple. These great restaurants have plenty of Beaujolais on their wine lists. This quintessential food wine goes well with either haute cuisine or Tuesday night's meat loaf.


Join The Golden Lion on November 19 as we celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau in high style!

Beaujolais Nouveau!! The Countdown Begins!!!

At one past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, from little villages and towns like Romanèche-Thorins, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" One of the most frivolous and animated rituals in the wine world has begun.

Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local phenomenon in the local bars, cafes, and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons. Each fall the new Beaujolais would arrive with much fanfare. In pitchers filled from the growers barrels, wine was drunk by an eager population. It was wine made fast to drink while the better Beaujolais was taking a more leisurely course. Eventually, the government stepped into regulate the sale of all this quickly transported, free-flowing wine.

In 1938 regulations and restrictions were put in place to restrict the where, when, and how of all this carrying on. After the war years, in 1951, these regulations were revoked by the region's governing body, the Union Interprofessional des Vins de Beaujolais (UIVB), and the Beaujolais Nouveau was officially recognized. The official release date was set for November 15th. Beaujolais Nouveau was officially born. By this time, what was just a local tradition had gained so much popularity that the news of it reached Paris. The race was born. It wasn't long thereafter that the word spilled out of France and around the world. In 1985, the date was again changed, this time to the third Thursday of November tying it to a weekend and making the celebration complete. But wherever the new Beaujolais went, importers had to agree not to sell it before midnight on the third Thursday of November.

For more about Beaujolais Nouveau go to Duboeuf's Wine Without Rules website.