Overview
- Traditional ceremonies marked the release, with the barrel tapped at midnight in Beaujeu and barrels rolled from a boat to Lyon’s city hall.
- Inter‑Beaujolais president Jean‑Marc Lafont says the vintage is very digestible, fine and elegant, with lower yields after rain during flowering and summer heat.
- Producers report strong local sales at launch, with one Lyon‑area domaine nearly sold out on the eve of release.
- About 14.3 million bottles of Beaujolais nouveau were sold worldwide in 2024, including roughly 9 million in France, with Japan the top export market ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Gaillac primeur also launched with around 500,000 bottles from some 30 producers, mostly red, following its own nighttime festivities.