Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrivé: Where to Drink it in PDX

Photo courtesy kimishowota via Flickr

Tomorrow (Thursday, November 21), the 2013 crop of Beaujolais will officially be released — it's the third Thursday of every November, for the uninitiated — and as to be expected, the Francophilic/Gamay enthusiasts celebrate with an evening's worth of boozy events. Need an excuse to drink? Hit up the parties below:

Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration @ Bar Avignon
When: Thursday, November 21
Bar Avignon's Randy Goodman and Nancy Hunt will toast Beaujolais at this fifth-annual celebration featuring a free wine tasting (from 5-6p.m.) and a special menu inspired by French classics. Dinner — with dishes like cassoulet, Lyonnaise salad, and seared foie gras — is available a la carte, and can be paired with a three-pour Gamay flight. Reservations here.

Beaujolais Nouveau Day @ St. Honore Bakery
When: Thursday, November 21, 5:30-8:30p.m.
Bow & Arrow's Gamay variety is front-and-center during a celebration at Dominique Geulin's NW bakery, which will offer a Beaujolais flight, paired with three bites from Geulin's upcoming SE St. Honore location (which will highlight a more savory Alsatian menu). More information here.

Beaujolais Nouveau Party @ Multnomah Athletic Club
When: Thursday, November 21, 6p.m.
Celebrated French chef Philippe Boulot will prep a full-on Beaujolais feast at the Multnomah Athletic Club, offering a spread of chilled seafood, charcuterie, cheese, and a whole roasted pig, best washed down with Beaujolais direct from France. Reservations are $45 and available by calling 503-517-6601.

Cerise Nouveau @ Cascade Barrel House
When: Thursday, November 21, starting at 3p.m.
Why do winemakers get to have all the fun? The sour-beer experts at Cascade Brewing will tap its barrel-aged "Cerise Nouveau," described as the "Beaujolais Nouveau of cherry beers." The keg taps at 3p.m., with the Cascade crew pouring the sour red ale on-draft while supplies last (it will soon be available by the bottle). While there, sample the Sang Noir 2012, also a cherry-forward red ale that's aged for between 12-24 months. More information here.

Fête du Nouveau @ Olympic Provisions
When: November 21-23
Chefs at both locations of Olympic Provisions will embrace Beaujolais with special offerings: At the SE location, Alex Yoder will serve a three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus best drank with the wine (or a flight); dinner arrivé with a Lyonnaise salad, choucroute garnie, and tarte tartin. The NW location, meanwhile, will offer a shorter Beaujolais menu available as specials, a la carte.

Oregon Nouveau Day @ St. Jack NW
When: Thursday, November 21, 6-10p.m.
Four local wineries — Division Winemaking Co., Grochau Cellars, Brandborg Winery — will gather together to celebrate Gamay outside St. Jack's still-under-construction NW location, pouring both locally produced wines and Beaujolais from France's Terroir Originels (not to mention a "Gamay beer" from Breakside Brewery). The $25 admission nets four wine pours and free food from the likes of St. Jack, Ox, Nostrana, and Ned Ludd. More information here.
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