Beyond Bordeaux: why Beaujolais stands alone without "second wines"?

A different winemaking culture

The lack of second wines in Beaujolais stems from the region’s unique approach to winemaking.
Unlike Bordeaux, where prestige and hierarchy are central to branding, Beaujolais places a strong emphasis on authenticity and accessibility.

Focus on expression rather than status

Beaujolais winemakers aim to capture the essence of their vineyards in each bottle, focusing on purity of expression rather than creating different tiers of quality within one estate.
Rather than ranking wines, Beaujolais producers view each wine as a distinct expression of its cru or terroir.

A culture of celebration and accessibility

Beaujolais has long been celebrated for its approachability, with a culture that embraces celebration and communal enjoyment.
This openness is reflected in its wines, which are designed to be shared and enjoyed without the formal classifications often seen in Bordeaux.

Terroir-driven winemaking

In Beaujolais, the emphasis on terroir allows each wine to showcase its natural origin, without dividing it into a first or second label.

This terroir-driven approach is especially clear in the region’s 10 crus — each representing a unique set of flavors and characteristics. For example:

• Morgon produces structured, age-worthy wines with a depth reminiscent of Burgundy.
• Fleurie is known for its floral, elegant wines.
• Moulin-à-Vent creates robust, complex wines with excellent aging potential.

Each cru is treated as an individual expression of Beaujolais, with no need to rank them by quality.
This focus on terroir gives each bottle a distinct identity, emphasizing the land and the season rather than a predetermined hierarchy.

The role of carbonic maceration

Beaujolais is famous for its carbonic maceration technique, which produces fresh, fruity wines that are enjoyable in their youth.
This winemaking method lends itself to creating wines for immediate enjoyment, often minimizing the need for long aging or strict classifications. As a result, Beaujolais doesn’t require a hierarchy between first and second wines — the wines are crafted for pleasure and drinkability from the outset.

In certain crus, where the wines do benefit from aging (such as Moulin-à-Vent or Morgon), the grapes from various parcels are typically blended into a single wine to showcase the full complexity of the terroir, rather than separating into multiple labels.

Limited Edition Cuvées: Beaujolais’ unique take on special wines

While Beaujolais lacks a traditional “second wine” concept, some producers create special cuvées or single-parcel wines that highlight exceptional qualities within their vineyards.

These cuvées often come from old vines, unique soil types, or prime vineyard locations, and they offer a glimpse into the best of what Beaujolais can achieve.

Examples of these limited cuvées demonstrate how Beaujolais winemakers explore unique aspects of their terroirs without creating a formal hierarchy:

• Some producers may produce a special “Vieilles Vignes” (old vines) cuvée to capture the concentration and depth from older plantings.
• Single-parcel wines might be created to showcase the specific qualities of a vineyard plot within a cru, offering a unique expression of that land.