Best beaujolais wines to buy

Less than an hour from Lyon, Beaujolais is dotted with medieval villages, vineyards and rolling hills. The region was once looked down on as inferior to its neighbour Burgundy, and a huge marketing push in the 1980s for its Beaujolais Nouveau wines – released on the third Thursday in November – perpetuated this. It’s still best known for light reds made with gamay grapes but a young, dynamic generation of producers now makes exciting wines that reflect the region’s diversity of soils and microclimates, using biodynamic and natural practices that have been common here for decades.

Beaujolais continues to attract dynamic winemakers and growers with forward-thinking ideas, partly because land is much cheaper than in Burgundy – but also because of the spirit of cooperation and sharing of ideas and equipment that the province’s producers are known for. “Everybody is welcome, as long as they’re not snobs,” says winemaker Julien Sunier. “We work hand in hand together.”

What grape is Beaujolais wine made from?

Gamay is the main grape here, snappy with red berry flavours and gentle scents of violets. They’re best served lightly chilled to make the most of their bright freshness, but this doesn’t mean they’re only for summer – enjoy in the gloom of winter (delicious alongside mildly spiced food) for a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Carbonic maceration is Beaujolais’ signature wine-making technique, whereby whole bunches of grapes are put into the vat with carbon dioxide so fermentation begins inside the fruit, rather than the conventional way of pressing the juice first. This makes wine that’s super juicy and brightly aromatic, with very low tannins – perfect for easy summer drinking.

Red wines simply labelled ‘Beaujolais’ are generally from the southern part of the region, while ‘Beaujolais Villages’ wines come from the north in the areas surrounding the 10 crus – those specific sub-regions, each with their own characteristics, that produce the region’s most esteemed wines. These are Fleurie (the lightest and most delicate), Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly and Moulin-à-Vent (the most dense and structured). Beaujolais Blanc can be made anywhere in the region.

What food should you pair Beaujolais with?

Lighter Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages styles are really versatile, best served slightly chilled with simple, summery food. Plates of charcuterie, earthy salads and tomato-based pasta dishes are all ace matches. Cru wines generally have more weight and complexity, so suit more robust food – they’re brilliant for a barbecue or with a Sunday roast.

Best beaujolais wine to buy 2025

Lapierre Raisins Gaulois

• Available from More Wine (£99.50/5 litres)

Marcel Lapierre was the father of modern organic, low-intervention wine-making in Beaujolais and his children Camille and Mathieu carry on his good work in the Morgon cru. This iconic bag-in-box wine is a good one to keep on hand in the fridge (it’ll last for a month after opening) or take to a party or picnic – it’s crunchy, refreshing and very smashable.

Château d’Emeringes Beaujolais Villages Vieilles Vignes 2023

• Available from The Wine Society (£9.95)

Fantastic value from a third-generation estate very near Juliénas, where the wine is made in cellars below the local church. Old vines give some concentration and gravitas to the bright and juicy fruit, which has just a little grip to keep it fresh and appetising.

Domaine Bulliat Beaujolais Blanc ‘Sur Le Granit’ 2023

• Available from Forest Wines (£24)

From a family that has grown grapes for seven generations, Loïc Bulliat and his father Noël now grow vines in eight Beaujolais appellations and make great wines. White Beaujolais is rare, accounting for just 1% of the region’s wine, and can be hit or miss. This is a shining example – the granite soils give minerality to its lemony, zesty fruit and racy acidity. Really delicious.

Check out more regional wine guides here:

Best Swiss wine
Best Georgian wine
Best Jura wine
Best Sicilian wine
Best Greek wine
Best German wine
Best Hungarian wine
Best South African wine
Best Portuguese red wine
Best Italian red wine