From how to make the most of French public holidays in 2026 to why Beaujolais wine doesn’t deserve its bad reputation and other wine-related myths, this week’s La Belle Vie newsletter offers an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking, and living like a local.
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
This week is a fun one for wine lovers. Each November, the third Thursday of the month marks Beaujolais Nouveau day. It is the release of the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau – a primeur (wine made in just a few weeks) that comes from the east of France, south of the wine-growing region of Burgundy.
In the Beaujolais region, it’s a four-day party, but in the rest of France, you’ll start noticing the new 2025 Beaujolais vintage hit the shelves in supermarkets and wine cellars.
I love Gamay wines, and I find Beaujolais wines to be a great alternative to the more expensive Burgundy wines. I honestly look forward to tasting the new vintage each year to see if it’s banana-flavoured.
Does Beaujolais Nouveau wine deserve its bad reputation?
The idea that all Beaujolais wines are bad is an unfair generalisation, but lots of people – French people included – still believe this.
Last week, I bought a Beaujolais AOC wine to pair with the Coq au vin I was attempting to make for dinner. Recently, I’ve started following authentic French recipes (yes, in French) when making French dishes.
I think it was a success. Maybe they were being nice, but none of the French people tasting my Coq au vin were overly critical. On the other hand, no one shied away from incredulous comments about the Beaujolais wine choice.
8 myths about French wine you really should stop believing
Living with my in-laws has been instructive when it comes to French eating habits. Lunch is the most important meal of the day. Dinner often consists of lunch leftovers or something small. On weekends (and sometimes weekdays), a glass of wine at lunch is to be expected.
Water often feels like an afterthought. I’ve joked that the water pitcher is there for me alone.
When I spend time with my French friends in Paris – most of whom are in their early 30s – the attitude toward wine feels different. Some friends are alcohol free by choice, and most do not have a glass per day, which was the norm for their parents’ generation.
ANALYSIS: Why the French are drinking less and less wine
For Americans, if you talk about a Thursday in November, they’ll probably think of Thanksgiving over Beaujolais Nouveau day.
In six years in France, I’ve never missed a Thanksgiving, even when I was living in an apartment with no oven.
I’ve learned a few lessons over the years: order your turkey at least a week or two in advance from your local butcher, stock up on pumpkin pie spice on visits to the US, and be willing to use a real pumpkin for your pie.
Readers’ tips: How to create the perfect Thanksgiving in France
Last week, we bought our 2026 calendar from the local pompiers (firefighters). I hung it up and started jotting down plans for the new year.
If you’re like me and you want to start planning ahead, we’ve got some tips for how to make the most of the French public holidays next year. In my opinion, it’s best to start looking for train tickets early, as they sell out quickly and skyrocket in price as the month of May approaches.
How to make the most of France’s 2026 public holidays
And finally, we have a new edition of The Local’s ‘grammar tips’ series. Here’s a sample conversation you might find yourself having in the next few weeks:
– Quels sont tes projets pour Noël ? (What are your plans for Christmas?)
– Je vais rendre visite à ma famille en Grande-Bretagne (I am going to visit my family in the UK)
At the end of that sentence, you probably want to add ‘and you?’ We’ve broken down why that should be et toi, not et tu.
French grammar tips: When to use ‘tu’ versus ‘toi’
Dining and Cooking