Honoring a decades old French tradition, local chefs and sommeliers gathered at Casa Casuarina on November 20 to celebrate the release of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2008. A fruity red wine that's meant to be served slightly cool, Beaujolais Nouveau is released at one minute past midnight on the third Thursday in November each year.
With celebrations happing simultaneously in New York's TriBeca area and at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas, the event began with a with a morning motorcade down Ocean Drive of "Beaujolais Bikers" (i.e. chefs riding motorcycles and escorting cases of wine to uncorking ceremonies and celebratory lunches, including the one held at the former Versace mansion).
The bikers-including the chefs from SushiSamba dromo, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Soyka, DeVito South Beach, and Casuarina's resident Loftin's 1116 Ocean, among other dignitaries-celebrated by indulging in a three-course lunch provided by the mansion.
Made from 100 percent Gamay grapes, a thin-skinned grape with lower tannins, the affordable wine retails for $10-12 per bottle and can be found at retailers nationwide.
