15,000 cases of vino to be released today

Get some good Beaujolais, and celebrate Nouveau Day

Today is Nouveau day. The annual celebration of the year’s wine harvest. Thanksgiving Day in the wine world. Yes, another excuse to party.

Wine Thanksgivings have been going on for decades with winemakers and growers, but it was the folks in Beaujolais that got the public involved in the celebrations. Beaujolais is a natural wine for this event because its lightness is conducive to a quick fermentation. And dare I say quick drinking.

This morning, the LCBO will be releasing 15,000 cases of wine from grapes just harvested in September. Besides Beaujolais, they will be offering wines from the south of France and Italy, where it’s called Novello. And a small amount of local Nouveau from Ancient Coast.

All the wines come in splashy, bright-coloured labels so you get the message: Party time.

Mommessin has three separate labels — featuring cartoon strips of “Mademoiselle Momm” playing the scene in Tokyo, New York and Paris.

I highly recommend that you join in the fun by grabbing a few bottles, baguettes, cheeses, and friends for an after-work celebration. Nothing fancy — Nouveau is not to be savoured. It’s for gulping and toasting the new vintage. Take your lead from Mademoiselle Momm.

I’ll post my comments on the wines later today at www.billysbestbottles.com. The top two values of the past five years have been JeanJean Syrah Primeur from France ($9.95) and Negrar Novello from Italy ($8.95) which comes in a label designed by Toronto artist Daryl Woods.

And you’re invited to my Nouveau Party tomorrow night!

My annual Bowling For Beaujolais party takes place on the back patio of Allen’s on the Danforth. Taste the wines, play bocce for the coveted Madonna trophy, munch on a great burger and enjoy the last outdoor party of the year. No reservations required. Bring your own bocce team of four or join others — no experience necessary.

Tomorrow, any time after 5:30 p.m. Allen’s is located at 143 Danforth Ave. in Toronto, minutes from the Broadview subway.

Billy Munnelly is author, wine critic and publisher of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter and Billy’s Best Wines For 2005. Visit www.billysbestbottles.comfor information about his in-home wine-tasting seminar. To receive a free copy of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter, e-mail info@billysbestbottles.com