December 31: National Champagne Day
 
I think everyone knows that it can only be called champagne if it’s made with certain grapes grown in the Champagne region of France. But I, like most people, call all bubbly vino champagne. Even if it is prosecco.
 

 
Also: this picture was taken at like, 2pm. Winning or failing?
 
Tomorrow: Apple Gifting Day

November 21: Nouveau Beaujolais Day

 

Okay, first of all, my Food Bible (I just made that up) that tells me what day every day is, screwed up. It says that November 20 is Nouveau Beaujolais Day. BUT NO. Nouveau Beaujolais Day is the third Thursday is November… which would be November 21 this year. I learned this the hard way when I went to BevMo looking for it and was turned away. Wah wah.

 

Let’s learn a bit about NOUVEAU BEAUJOLAIS from our ole pal Wikipedia, shall we?

 

Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November. This “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” used to see heavy marketing, with races to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe. The current release practice is to ship the wine ahead of the third Thursday of November, and release it to the local markets at 12:01 am local time.

Beaujolais nouveau is a purple-pink wine reflecting its youth, bottled only 6-8 weeks after harvest. The method of production means that there is very little tannin, and the wine can be dominated by such fruity ester flavours as banana, grape, strawberry, fig and pear drop. The wine is recommended to be slightly chilled to 13°C (55°F).

 

So since I wasn’t about to go anywhere at 12:01am (is that really a thing here in America? Or just dans de minuscules villages de France dans la campagne??), I called around. I knew BevMo was SUPPOSED to have it (since I went there the day before…. LIKE SOME SORT OF ROOKIE IDIOT), but BevMo is sorta far (or I’m sorta lazy) and I had a dinner party to go to. I called Trader Joe’s and the guy’s all “yeah! We just got it in today! It’s in a special display!” and I’m all sweeeeet because Trader Joe’s is close!

 

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I ran in, saw a Beaujolais display, grabbed it, and went home… to quickly drink it by myself before the dinner party. Don’t judge. Anyway, it wasn’t until I was home and drinking this stuff that I realized there was no mention of NOUVEAU anywhere. Huh. Maybe they just SAY nouveau, but don’t write it on the label? Or maybe I’m just some sort of TURD who bought the wrong bottle of wine. Yep. Some sort of turd. There was nothing NOUVEAU about it. Let’s just say I celebrated Vieux Beaujolais Day. Sorry I failed you all. I’ll try to do better.

 

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Tomorrow: National Cashew Day