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 departements 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

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

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

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