Le Vin Nouveau, the Fresno State Winery’s annual tribute to the French fall wine tradition, will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at California State University, Fresno.

The event is open to the public with $15 admission, which includes an exclusive taste of the 2009 Nouveau wines, light hors d’oeuvres and a cooking demonstration by Fredrick Clabaugh, executive chef of the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The event, which will be in the winery located in the Enology Building on campus (2360 E. Barstow Ave.), will highlight the history of Nouveau wines and information about the different styles used to make each wine. It is hosted by Fresno State Winery, members of the Enology Society, and faculty and staff from the Department of Viticulture and Enology.

According to tradition, at one minute after midnight on the third Thursday of each November, winemakers from villages in France release their first vintage of the year – Beaujolais Nouveau – with much fanfare, said Kenneth Fugelsang, winemaster and professor of enology at Fresno State whose expertise has become widely acclaimed in the enology world both nationally and in Europe.

“We invite everyone to celebrate with us and celebrate with the world,” Fugelsang said. The Fresno State Winery, the first bonded commercial winery to operate on a university campus in the nation, has won more than 300 awards in prestigious wine competitions nationally and internationally. It is one of only a handful of wineries outside France to produce Nouveau-style wines.

“These French wines are some of the most interesting wines we make,” Fugelsang said. “Students in our production enology class produce these wines in less than eight weeks when most wines take 12 months or more. Even better is the fact that these wines pair perfectly with many holiday entrees.”

The new wines presented at Le Vin Nouveau will be:

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Fresno State’s 2009 Nouveau Blanc – made using the classic French style of carbonic maceration. This blend of Muscat and Semillion has a profusion of exotic fruit aromas coupled with ripened pear, kiwi, and honeydew with a crisp finish. Fugelsang recommends serving chilled with favorite holiday hors d’ oeuvres and meals.

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The 2009 Nouveau Rouge – features bright cherry aromas complemented by lavender and violets. This wine, made in the traditional carbonic style, has supple tannins balanced by acidity and dark cherry flavors and is a perfect red wine for holiday venues.

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The 2009 Vin D’Une Nuit – a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. It is pressed and then uniquely co-fermented in a stainless steel tank to preserve the fresh fruit character of these Rhone varieties. Delicate strawberry and watermelon with a hint of green pepper and a touch of sweetness offsets the bright acidity. The finish is clean and refreshing with lingering floral tones. Fugelsang recommends opening for at least 20 minutes before serving slightly chilled.

John Giannini, Fresno State winemaker, said Beaujolais Nouveau owes its easy drinkability to a winemaking process called carbonic maceration – or whole berry fermentation.

“This technique preserves the fresh, fruity quality of the wine without extracting bitter tannins from the grape skins,” Giannini said. “These wines are not meant for long-term aging and are best enjoyed within the first year of release when they are fresh and lively.”

Le Vin Nouveau is enhanced with the participation of Tenaya Lodge, which also teams with the university’s viticulture and enology programs for the nationally recognized Fresno State Winemaster’s Weekend in March. At the Nov. 19 celebration, Clabaugh will prepare a fig and orange flame dessert that features Fresno State vanilla ice cream. Representatives from the Tenaya Lodge also will be available to give a sneak peek at the Winemaster’s Weekend, which will be held at the resort March 5-7.

Le Vin Nouveau attendees will have a chance to win a two-night package for the 2010 Winemaster’s Weekend, which showcases Fresno State wine and other agricultural products. Advance reservations with special pricing for the two-night package for two also will be available for purchase at Le Vin Nouveau.

Reservation packages for the Le Vin Nouveau are available to the public. Guests must be at least 21 years old to attend (no children allowed). For more information, call 559.278.4867.

For event parking, enter coupon code 16080002 at any on-campus parking dispenser for a permit.

Related link:

Fresno State Winery

Fresno State Viticulture and Enology program

Fresno State Winemaster’s Weekend