It's a wine holiday

Beaujolais Nouveau is a fresh, young wine, barely 6 weeks old, made from gamay grapes grown in the Beaujolais region of France. The wine is similar in weight to pinot noir and the flavor can be described as grapey, very fruity and almost bubble gum- or banana-like in some cases.

Wine companies often employ elaborate and show-stopping methods of getting the wines out to eagerly waiting patrons in time for the official release--commercial jets, helicopters, rickshaws and even elephants all have been used in the past.

On Thursday night, restaurants and wine bars throughout Chicago and the world will honor the release of the first wine of the year with celebrations featuring a festive energy and atmosphere normally reserved only for New Year's Eve.

So is Beaujolais Nouveau really delicious enough to warrant all this hoopla?

I would say certainly not, but the flavor of the wine is not what matters; it's more what the wine represents.

The winemaker has spent the past year laboring away in the vineyard, and this first wine is the culmination of all of his or her hard work. For the rest of us, the release coincides with the time of year when we pause and give thanks for the bountiful gifts in our life and acknowledge the start of the holiday season.

These are all very good reasons to celebrate.

Beaujolais Nouveau can be purchased for around $10 per bottle. Popular producers include Georges Duboeuf, Labore-Roi and Louis Jadot. The fresh and fruity flavors of Beaujolais Nouveau also make it a natural match for Thanksgiving fare.