A Beaujolais wine and Bistrot Beaujolais for every occasion
From wine bars and bistros to brasseries and Michelin-starred restaurants, ‘Bistrots Beaujolais’ are ambassadors for the beautiful wines of France’s Beaujolais region – in France and beyond. The mission? To showcase Beaujolais’ wines across the world, arousing interest and inspiring people to get to know them better.
“Bistrots Beaujolais stands for the true Beaujolais spirit where the art of living – ‘l’art de vivre’ – with good food and great wines are at the centre,” says restaurateur Guillaume Mithieux. “The network is a voluntary commitment where those who share this spirit register their interest in joining.”
Mithieux runs La Maison des Beaujolais in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, a restaurant famous for its vast selection of Beaujolais wines. (Incidentally, the restaurant is also one of the finalists in the Special Jury Prize category at Star Wine List of the Year France 2026.)
“The most important mission of the network is to promote the French art of living and showcase the breadth of Beaujolais wines together with well-prepared food made from good ingredients,” Mithieux continues.
The spirit of Beaujolais
The history of Bistrots Beaujolais dates back to the 1950s when two men, Henri Clos-Jouve and Marcel Grancher, set up La Coupe des Meilleurs Pots. The idea was to award bistros for the quality of their Beaujolais selections, and for creating friendly environments in which guests could enjoy those wines. The contest – and its network – grew quickly and was transferred to Paris, with a few adaptations.
In 1995 the concept returned to its roots in Lyon with the creation of La Coupe de Lyonnaise des Étonnants Beaujolais. The idea was still the same: to award the bistros that best promoted the great wines of Beaujolais. Since then, the Bistrots Beaujolais network – managed by Inter Beaujolais – has been both expanded and rejuvenated. Today, more than 300 venues in more than 10 countries around the world – from New York to Lyon, Paris to London – are part of the network, with new members joining every year. Every one of these establishments shares a love of the nectar from Beaujolais – from easy-drinking ‘Bojo Nouveau’ to elegant and age-worthy crus.
And no, it’s not just about the wines. It’s about much more of the typical “Beaujolais vibe” – an ethos centred on friendliness, authenticity, fun, gastronomy and a sense of community. There’s even a word for it within the Bistrots Beaujolais network: “Beaujonomie” – the spirit of sharing and coming together, whether that’s to enjoy the wines in restaurants or at home (though either way, they recommend serving it in magnums).
“In true Beaujolais spirit, everything revolves around community and being in the company of good friends,” says Mithieux.
How to get involved
To be part of the Bistrots Beaujolais network, not only do you have to have a world-class Beaujolais wine list, there are also other criteria such as storing and serving the wines at the correct temperature, and marketing the region so that guests are inspired to learn more.
As every true wine lover knows, Beaujolais is a wine region with a wide array of styles, from the flirty to the austere. While ‘Nouveau’ might still be the first thing that comes to mind for many people, media outlets such as Decanter and The Drinks Business have more recently reported that interest in the area as a whole is enjoying a resurgence. This is thanks to a new generation of winemakers, better vineyard management and new techniques, which are all leading to even more exciting, high-quality wines.
“I think that this wine region has once again become a great classic,” explained Gaëtan Bouvier, Best Sommelier of France 2016, when interviewed by Inter Beaujolais. “This is why the 10 Beaujolais crus are a minimum requirement on any wine list today. And no matter where you are in the world.”
The Bistrots Beaujolais project is all about making people (re)discover the Beaujolais region, its wines, its artisan growers and its traditions. Wine lovers can relax in the knowledge that, when they visit one of the many bistros in the network, they can be assured of a dedicated wine list that is carefully curated to highlight the best that Beaujolais has to offer.
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Inter Beaujolais
Inter Beaujolais, the Beaujolais wine council, is a private organisation recognised by the French government, bringing together partners from the winegrowing industry, upstream and down.
