Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 Celebrations Across Southern California

From wine dinners to parties, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the young French wine

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau, the young French wine made from Gamay grapes, is celebrated across Southern California with wine dinners, tastings, and parties on November 19th and the surrounding days. Venues in Glendale, the South Bay, and Hollywood are hosting events featuring the 2009 vintage along with French-inspired food, music, and more.

Why it matters

Beaujolais Nouveau has been a beloved tradition in France since the 1950s, providing an opportunity for people to gather and enjoy a simple, easy-drinking wine. While the marketing of Beaujolais Nouveau has led to some subpar vintages in recent years, there are still quality producers making enjoyable versions of the wine. These Southern California events allow local wine lovers to partake in the Beaujolais Nouveau tradition.

The details

The events span from wine dinners featuring multiple Beaujolais Nouveau wines paired with French-inspired cuisine, to more casual tastings and parties. Venues like Victors Square Restaurant in Hollywood, Creme de la Crepe locations in the South Bay, Rosso Wine Shop in Glendale, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel are all hosting Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations on or around November 19th. Prices range from $10 to $80 per person, with most events including the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau release along with other food, wine, and entertainment.

  • Beaujolais Nouveau Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of November, which in 2009 fell on November 19th.
  • The Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations in Southern California are taking place on November 19th and the surrounding days.

The players

Victors Square Restaurant

A restaurant in Hollywood hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau dinner on November 19th.

Creme de la Crepe

A chain of creperies in the South Bay hosting Beaujolais Nouveau tastings on November 19th.

Rosso Wine Shop

A wine shop in Glendale hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau celebration on November 19th.

Petersen Automotive Museum

A museum in Los Angeles hosting a "Beaujolais Passions" event on November 19th featuring the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

A hotel in Hollywood hosting a "Francophone Fest" event on November 19th celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau.

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What they’re saying

“Due to the nature of Beaujolais Nouveau, it is obviously a very simple wine. This does not necessary mean that it's a bad wine. The marketing of it these past few years has brought a lot of pretty insipid juice to the forefront, your typical hangover wine if you ask me. There are still a few who make pleasurable Beaujolais Nouveau, among them a small producer, Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux. He's one of those guys people have started relying on for a decent bottle.”

— Nicolas Soufflet, Wine expert (nowandzin.com)

“I personally like the Beaujolais Crus. My favorites are from the Morgon appellation, possibly the darkest of them. They are evidence that when treated and aged properly, Gamay can be an elegant grape and deliver good complexity and personality. The number of Beaujolais Crus are up to ten now, with Régnié having been promoted from its previous Beaujolais-Villages status in 1988.”

— Nicolas Soufflet, Wine expert (nowandzin.com)

“In France, the Beaujolais Nouveau Day is a pretty big thing. Mostly, it provides the French people with exactly what they want - an excuse to go to the cafe or bistro around the corner and mingle while enjoying a glass of wine. Or two. Or five. I think the tradition goes back to the 1950's. The style became very popular in the 1960s and in 1985 the third Thursday of November was established by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine as the national release date.”

— Nicolas Soufflet, Wine expert (nowandzin.com)

The takeaway

While Beaujolais Nouveau may not be the most complex or prestigious wine, it provides an opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate the simple pleasures of wine, food, and camaraderie. These Southern California events allow local residents to partake in this longstanding French tradition and discover quality Beaujolais Nouveau producers, demonstrating that simple, young wines can still be enjoyable when made well.