Wine fairs and en primeur weeks in Beaujolais worth planning a trip around, by month.
Wine fairs and en primeur weeks in Beaujolais worth planning a trip around, by month.
The third Thursday of November signals the simultaneous global release of Beaujolais Nouveau under the Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive banner.
Host: Inter Beaujolais
Tip: The most atmospheric way to experience the release is to be in a Lyon bouchon at midnight; the city still treats Nouveau night as a genuinely festive occasion, unlike much of the international hype.
Les Sarmentelles is held in Beaujeu, the historic medieval capital of the Beaujolais, on the eve of Nouveau release. A torchlight procession winds through the old town, fires are lit, and the clock runs down to midnight when the year's Nouveau is first poured. The event combines medieval theatre and vine-grower celebration in the town that gave the region its name.
Host: Commune de Beaujeu and local associations
Tip: Beaujeu's medieval architecture is the backdrop for an authentic Nouveau celebration rooted in the town that gave the region its name; arrive for the afternoon market before the evening procession.
The spring Fete des Crus brings together producers from all ten Beaujolais Cru appellations for public and trade tasting sessions. The event is Inter Beaujolais's flagship spring showcase, deliberately emphasising the quality and diversity of the named Crus rather than the Nouveau image. Tasting tickets give access to producer stands pouring the latest vintage alongside back-vintages.
Host: Inter Beaujolais
Tip: Buy a tasting glass on arrival and work systematically through the ten Crus; the lighter Crus (Chiroubles, Fleurie) are best tasted first before moving to structured Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon.
The autumn Marche aux Vins in Villié-Morgon, the heartland village of the Morgon Cru appellation, brings together local producers for an open-air market tasting in the village square.
Host: Mairie de Villié-Morgon and local producers
Tip: Villié-Morgon is the home village of the Gang of Four natural-wine producers; combine the market with a walk up to the Cote du Py granite hill for a view over the Morgon vineyards.
Modelled on the Beaune Hospices charity auction, the Hospices de Beaujeu holds its annual barrel auction in December in the medieval town of Beaujeu, with proceeds supporting the local hospital.
Host: Hospices de Beaujeu
Tip: The Beaujeu auction is far less crowded than the Beaune event and retains an intimate, working-grower atmosphere; the town's medieval streets and the Maison du Pays du Beaujolais are worth a separate afternoon visit.
The Marathon des Vignes routes runners through Cru vineyard paths in the northern Beaujolais between Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, Chenas, and Julienas, with wine tasting stations at producer cellar stops along the course.
Host: Association Marathon des Vignes du Beaujolais
Tip: Register months in advance as entries sell out quickly; accommodation in the Cru villages fills for the marathon weekend and must be booked simultaneously.
The Foire Nationale des Vins de France, first held in Macon in 1932, runs each May in Macon and draws producers from across the country including Beaujolais and the Maconnais.
Host: Macon Exposition
Tip: Beaujolais producers exhibit within the Burgundy section; look for the Cru Beaujolais showcase area organised by Inter Beaujolais for a focused Gamay tasting at the fair.
Inter Beaujolais organises a structured professional tasting each spring for wine journalists, importers, and trade buyers, covering all ten Crus in the new vintage. International press interest has grown through the 2010s and 2020s.
Host: Inter Beaujolais
Tip: This is a trade and press event; consumers can access many of the same producers at their domaines during the same week when open-cellar tastings frequently run in parallel.
Peak wine-travel season in Beaujolais is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Beaujolais rewards trust.