Beaujolais (province)

Beaujolais (French pronunciation: [boʒɔlɛ]; Arpitan: Biôjolês) is a historical province and wine-producing region in France. It is located north of Lyon, and covers parts of the departments of Rhône and Saône-et-Loire. The region is known internationally for its long tradition of winemaking, and more recently for the Beaujolais nouveau.

Geography[edit]

Beaujolais' location in France
Beaujolais landscape

The historical capital of the province is Beaujeu (Arpitan: Bôjor / Biôjœr) and the economic capital of the area is Villefranche-sur-Saône (Velafranche).

Wine[edit]

Almost all the wine produced in the region is red wine from the Gamay grape, of which the heavily marketed Beaujolais Nouveau is the most well-known, and the village crus the most prized.

Notes and references[edit]

  • Mathieu Méras, Le Beaujolais au Moyen Age, Lyon, 1956.

46°05′N 04°40′E / 46.083°N 4.667°E / 46.083; 4.667