Strong exports show Beaujolais is back in demand in the UK

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 22 February, 2017

Beaujolais exports to the UK have confirmed the region's return to favour among consumers.

Export volumes of Beaujolais Crus rose 31.68% year on year through to end 2016, while volumes of Beaujolais Villages were up 12.75%.

The once iconic appelation has fallen from favour since its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s.

But the region's wine-growers have in recent years focused more closely on terroir, identifying variations among each cru and mapping out lieux-dits and climats.

The growing use of lieux-dits has been accompanied by a focus on minimal intervention movement, with many producers now identifying their wines as lutte raisonné or vin sans soufre.

Rupert Taylor of wine merchant OW Loeb said: "There is such a great mix of experience, youthful energy and exuberance in the area at the moment. Allocations of some Beaujolais have been tight for well over a year, a pretty good sign that the region is on the rise."

Doug Wregg of Les Caves de Pyrene said: "We've found that certain Beaujolais producers are attracting attention and this is driving sales of the more serious cru wines.

"Customers are favouring wines which display vineyard character and are made in the Burgundian - as opposed to carbonic - method with longer elevage in barrels."

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