NEWS
FIRST SHIPMENT OF BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU ARRIVED IN JAPAN
By Tony Zhu
23-10-2025
Source: Inter-Beaujolais
This year's first shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau wine has arrived in Japan from France yesterday, ahead of its release on 20 November.
Despite rising prices in Japan and elsewhere, the suggested retail price per 750ml bottle will be set at ¥3,256 (USD21.3), same as last year, according to Suntory Holdings, which imports and distributes the French wine from the region of Beaujolais.
"It features a sweet and rich taste, as this has been a good year blessed with sunshine," Japan Today quoted a Suntory official as saying.
The company plans to import a total of about 335,000 liters of the wine, down about 2 percent from the previous year.
To cultivate a wider customer base, Suntory eyes reinforcing sales of 375ml bottles, in addition to the popular 750ml type.
"The release is an annual celebration. Beaujolais Nouveau plays an important role in spreading wine culture," said Keiko Yoshio, who is in charge of wine business at Suntory, after a shipment of wine arrived at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November every year.
Another shipment arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday morning, and further shipments are expected to reach across the country later.
However, Kirin Holdings, also a drinks giant and leading wine importer, will halt sales of Beaujolais Nouveau in Japan this autumn.
The company said it made the decision on rising freight costs and the shifting preferences of wine drinkers in Japan.
As recent as 2021, Japan was Beaujolais Nouveau’s largest export market, accounting for around 3.6 million bottles — more than twice that of the next-biggest market, the USA.
But imports have been declining in recent years.
According to estimates by Suntory Holdings, total Beaujolais imports in 2024 fell far below the recent peak of 2004, when Japan took in over 12 million bottles.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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