Beaujolais Nouveau 2006!!

The New Beaujolais has arrived Nov,16,2006!

The annual arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau
will be one of the most exciting events
in the wine lover's calender.

I hear that the wine,which is released annual
on 3rd Thur in Nov, began as a local phenomenon
in the bars,cafes and bistros of the Beaujolais region north of Lyon,
and today more than 70 million bottles are sold warldwide.

Around 45,000,000l of Beaujolais Nouveau is produced each year,
making up about a third of the region's total wine production.
About half of this is exported, some of it as far as Asia.

In USA, it's common for Beaujolais Nouveau to be drunk
on Thanksgiving(on the 3rd Thurs in Nov),
since the holiday falls only a week after the year's production goes on sale.

In France, where the wine is made, winemakers who have worked hard
all year tend to look forward to Beaujolais Nouveau Day
as a celebration of the season coming to an end.

Anyway, Beaujolais Nouveau is popular among all over the world.

It's said that Beaujolais Nouveau isn't a wine to keep.
It must be rapidly consumed within a few months of it's production.

And unlike other red wines, it is served chilled.
By chilling a wine lightly,
you can taste more refreshing and more evident fruit flavors.

This year's Beaujolais has a good balance between fruitiness & acidity
because the weather in France alternated regularly
from hot to cool between June and August,said an official at Asahi.

I think Nouveau is light,fruity wine which is very easy to drink.
I have a kind of feeling the fresh grapes smell.

By the way,talking of wine...I love a sparkling wine!
I like not only it's tast but it's happy atmosphere.
A sparkling froth rising in the champagne makes us happy~~
It has the gorgeousness and dream,I feel^o^.
Someday,I want to try drinking "Salon",
the most eminent wine in the Champagne!!

Toast!! Beaujolais Nouveau 2006^.^

Colored leaves in Hokuriku.

My family visited "Hakusan Super Rindo",
the spot of colored leaves in Hokuriku.

Hakusan was very deep mountain.
It's colored leaves were so beautiful!


As we passed through the super rindo, we were captivated by the nature beauty. Hakusan was glowing in the bright blue sky!

The world Horitage Site "Shirakawa Village" A house with a rafter roof was created by the wisdom
of the people live in the heavy snowfall area.
The Shirakawa Village covered with snow will be more tasteful~~^-^

On the 2nd day, my family stayed in Kanazawa.
We often visit Kanazawa where we lived in the past.

Kanazawa called "The ancient city of Hokuriku" is very attractive place!
In the modern architecture, the nature,the old row of houses&streets,
the traditional culture.....remain.


The traditional crafts,Ohi, Kutani-yaki and Kagayuzen...are famous.
Whenever we come to Kanazawa,we visit their shops.

Kanazawa has a lot of good foods,too!!
The fresh fishes come from the Sea of Japan
and delicious japanese-style sweets...
We ate seafood bowl in Oumi market for lunch.

In the dinner,
we went to our favorite
japanese food restaurant"Taro".

It stands along the river and the atmosphere is good!!

It serves 'Kaiseki' during the summer and 'Nabe' during the winter.
We go eating the Nabe about once in 2 years.
At the Taro,the waitress attends and set Nabe.
So you can eat the more nice Nabe.
Taro's Nabe full of the fresh fishes is really tasty~~!

The full moon I saw in Kanazawa was beautiful^o^