The Beaujolais vineyard boast 12 appellations, including 10 crus. Do you know them all ? Ten crus and a lot of names to retain. Here are a few devices to help you remember !
1. A mnemonic device to remember the 10 BEAUJOLAIS crus
The idea is to learn a sentence that begins with the first letter of each cru. Many sentences are used in the Beaujolais region. So, for those of you who speak French, here is one example:
« Alors Je Cherche Mon Frère Chez Ma Respectable Cousine Berthe ».
(Translation: So, I’m looking for my brother at my respectable cousin Berthe’s house)
If we expand each capital letter, we get: A for Saint-Amour, J for Juliénas, C for Chénas, M for Moulin-à-Vent, F for Fleurie, C for Chiroubles, M for Morgon,R for Régnié, C for Côte-de-Brouilly and finally B for Brouilly.
Among English-speaking wine enthusiasts, you might hear :
“Some Japanese Canadians Marry French Canadians Making Really Beautiful Children”
This sentence uses the S of Saint-Amour. Then come Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly.
If neither of these sentences feel right, why not come up with your own? All Jays Caw, etc. or Friday Morning Rituals, etc. But we can assure you, it’s not easy!
2. A real-life experience in the Beaujolais region
The best way to remember the ten crus is to associate them with a memorable experience. It is easier to remember a wine if it reminds you of an encounter or a moment shared with others. So here are three ways to make the most of your trip in the Beaujolais region!
Celebrate the release of Beaujolais Nouveaux in a winery
On the 3rd Thursday of November, many wineries organise tastings of Beaujolais Nouveaux, as well as other Beaujolais appellations. You could try a Juliénas, a Saint-Amour or a Fleurie!
Travel along the Beaujolais Wine Route
The Beaujolais Wine Route is a tourist trail that crosses the entire Beaujolais vineyard. You can visit the village of Chiroubles, glimpse the moulin à vent, or windmill, that the appellation is named after, climb Mont Brouilly or stop off at Villié-Morgon.
Attend the Sarmentelles festival
The Sarmentelles festival is THE place to be to celebrate the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveaux. Beaujeu, the historic capital of the Beaujolais region, is also a great place to discover all the appellations. Each cru takes part in the Sarmentelles, so don’t hesitate to talk to winegrowers from Chénas, Chiroubles or Régnié.
To complete the list of Beaujolais appellations, don’t forgot the AOC Beaujolais and AOC Beaujolais Villages!
