The third Thursday of November is traditionally when Beaujolais Nouveau, a lightly fermented wine made from Gamay grapes from France’s Beaujolais province, gets released. Though it spends just six to eight weeks resting on wood after harvest and is corked and shipped well in advance of the officially sanctioned holiday, tradition dictates that bottles stay out of site until 12:01 AM on Beaujolais Day.  

Beaujolais Nouveau has become a recent hit in the U.S.—it wasn't even available outside France until after WWII—and the day celebrating its harvest has now also jumped across the Atlantic.

Head to Brooklyn Winery in Williamsburg on Thursday (7 p.m.), or even better yet, get your tickets ($35) now, to celebrate the release of its very own Brooklyn Nouveau. 

Using carbonic maceration fermentation (like how the stuff is made in France), Brooklyn Winery winemaker Conor McCormack used Zinfandel grapes from Lodi, California for a wine that's similarly fruity, and low in tannins. 

The event will include live jazz with Lapis Luna as well as cheese and charcuterie. And beyond just being an excuse to have a good time, "It helps bring awareness to the fact that we do something very unique in New York City," says Dan Ingala of Brooklyn Winery. While the winery makes their own Nouveau on a yearly basis, this is their first celebration.  

So if you're a fan of the light wine, be sure to get yours soon. "We do plan to have it on tap to drink at the wine bar," Ingala says, with one ominous caveat. "If we have some left over after the event." Did we mention, open bar from 7 − 9 PM?

Brooklyn Winery, 213 North 8th St., Brooklyn, 347-376-1506
Photo: Courtesy of Brooklyn Winery