Wine lovers look forward to Beaujolais

At midnight tomorrow wine lovers around the world will raise their glasses and proclaim: "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé".

Every third Thursday of November, the famous Beaujolais Nouveau is uncorked for the first time.

This wine began as a local phenomenon in the local bars, cafés and bistros of Beaujolais and Lyons. Each autumn the new Beaujolais would arrive with much fanfare. In pitchers filled from the growers' barrels, wine was drunk by an eager population.

By the time it is over, over 65 million bottles, nearly half of the region's total annual production, will have been distributed and drunk around the world.

It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve this new wine. In doing so, it has been carried by motorcycle, balloon, truck, helicopter, Concorde, elephant, runners and rickshaws to get it to its destination.

Only weeks ago, this wine was a cluster of grapes in a grower's vineyard. But by an expeditious harvest, a rapid fermentation and a speedy bottling, all will be ready at the midnight hour.

Half the fun is knowing that on the same night, in homes, cafés, restaurants, pubs, bars and bistros around the world, the same celebration is taking place. It hasn't the pedigree to be a classic wine, but it is always good.

Mirachem (Marketing) Ltd, importers of Albert Bichot wines, will be making the Albert Bichot Beaujolais Nouveau 2005 available in wine bars and restaurants around Malta and Gozo tomorrow.