How about bringing a bit of European tradition to your winery this harvest by making a small batch of nouveau wine? When we think of nouveau wine, we often think of Beaujolais. This is not because nouveau wine originated there, but mostly because Beaujolais has done an excellent job of marketing. Germany and Portugal are also known for their harvest wines released during Martinmas. And although Beaujolais may have cornered the US market for nouveau wines, they aren’t the only game around and you can have fun making your own nouveau wine too. A great example of this is the harvest wines produced by the winery at CSU Fresno State every year.

What is a nouveau wine ? Typically it wine that is created, bottled and sold in the same year it’s harvested. Although what we see here in the stores is bottled, in Europe it is often sold by the glass at the local winery, festival, or restaurant. Customers may also bring their own jug by the winery to have it filled. Purchasing in this way is very common in Europe and being able to enjoy the first tastes of the local wineries’ most recent harvest is cause for celebration. Often, the only opportunity to taste the wine is when the winemaker is pouring, making it an even more exclusive and desirable experience.

Nouveau wine literally means young, new. They are not intended to be aged, complex or oaky. They are intended to be fruity, easy to drink, light (rose, white or light red), slightly sweet or semi-dry. They should be chilled and if red, there should be little to no tannins. Some residual CO2 from fermentation can make the wine enjoyably fizzy or frizzante.

Gamay, Zinfandel, Muscat and Riesling grapes are usually good for nouveau wines because they are showing lots of fruitiness at a young age. In Texas, Jacquez and Blanc du Bois might be great choices too. Whereas Sauvignon Blanc is typically not a good choice due to its minerals and acidity. If you make your wine “Beaujolais style,” meaning using the process of carbonic maceration fermentation, then you can use big reds like Cabernet, Tempranillo, Granache, and even Syrah because this process will soften these reds. Or you can make roses, leaving the skins on for 24-48 hours before pressing off.

The challenge for the typical winery is that the creation process must be happening during the busiest time for the winery. Although you have harvested these grapes early, you probably have 2/3 of your vineyard left to harvest. If your winery and tasting room staff are the same people, this can be a challenge. But there are grapes that may be more conducive in terms of timing in your area too. If you are in a warmer region, like the southern states, and you have a variety that ripens earlier than others – like Blanc Du Bois, this may be your best choice for two reasons: 1) You may have more time to deal with it and it is likely to be your fruitiest grape. 2) Because you are not aging this wine, you can let fruit hang longer without having to worry about how it will affect the aging of the wine. This only works if the wine will be soft, easy drinking, fruity wine, like a nouveau.

This is a different wine-making technique – you are not trying to extract all the flavors from the grapes that you typically do. That’s why these are usually whites or roses. This contradiction to how you typically make wine can be hard to get at first. But remember:

You are not making the wine of the century – and not even trying!< The point of this wine is for it to be easy – on you as a winemaker and easy to drink. You are not trying to make the greatest wine ever, you are trying to make the best wine to drink right now.

As for marketing and public relations, this is a great opportunity to invite existing customers back to the winery. Because nouveau wines typically are not bottled, but served from the casks, you can sell it by the glass allowing your customers to share with you something special and unique. Throw a party for this exclusive once-a-year event! It’s a perfect time to entertain – serve food, have music, charm your guests and leave them feeling like they are valued and are a part of the select few. Don’t we all enjoy that now and then?

Salut!

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