Nouveau Night 2007
Beaujolais Nouveau Wines & More!

It's that time of year again - le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive! (the Nouveau Beaujolais has arrived).

It’s the call throughout France – and the world - on the third Thursday in November as the new Beaujolais wines are unveiled. Asheville will be joining in this international event as we celebrate Nouveau Night on November 15th. This is the 13th year for this gala affair, which is also the annual fundraiser for The Asheville Downtown Association.

Every year for the past century, the new batches of Beaujolais wines arrive, with much fanfare, at local bars, cafes and bistros of the Beaujolais and Lyons regions of France. Wagons loaded with barrels of new wines would race, literally, from various vineyards to be the first wine into towns. In the early 1950s, the French government regulated the release date of the wines; by the mid-1980s, the entire world began awaiting and celebrating the release of the new wines on November’s third Thursday.

Asheville's Nouveau Night combines the unveiling of the wines with a celebration of locally owned restaurants who graciously offer their own special appetizers and food samplings to guests. Local restaurants this year include Bistro 1896, Bouchon, Cafe on the Square, City Bakery, Ed Boudreaux's, Fiore's, La Caterina, Laughing Seed, Lobster Trap, Old Europe Bistro, Paris Festival, Picholine, Pomodoros, Sante's, Savoy, Scully's, Southside Cafe, Sugo, Sweet Monkey, The Big Cheese, The Market Place, Ultimate Ice Cream, Vigne, Vincenzo's and World Coffee Cafe.

This year’s gala will also feature vintage, red, white and sparkling wines in addition to the Beaujolais Nouveau. There will be a table with beverages for Designated Drivers and room for dancers to enjoy the music for our local band, Swing Away. Don’t miss this premiere food and wine celebration in our beautiful downtown.