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The Langham joins the world race to be the first to serve Beaujolais Nouveau this Thursday

(14 November 2006) At one minute past midnight this Thursday, the Langham Hotel Auckland (LHA) will battle to become the first in the world to serve the new harvest of Beaujolais Nouveau.

Admittedly one of the most frivolous rituals in the wine world, the third Thursday of each November marks the first day the new harvest of Beaujolais Nouveau can be served.

Given LHA’s position on the world map, Langham’s sommelier Josselin de Gesincourt believes his chances at being the first to serve the new harvest wine are good: “We are the first to see the new day so that has to help at winning the race,”he says.

Those wanting to join in the festivities and be among the first in the world to try the new harvest are invited to the Langham where the beverage will be available at $16 per glass or $60 for a bottle.

So what can one expect from a tipple: “It certainly doesn’t have the pedigree of a classic wine, it’s really a festive wine to be enjoyed by those in high-spirits. The whole fun from the race is knowing that all around the world, the same celebration is taking place,” says Josselin.

Beaujolais Nouveau began as a local event in Beaujolais and Lyons. Each Autumn the new harvest would arrive and the wine would be drunk in pitchers filled from the growers barrels. By the 1950’s the popularity of the tradition had reached Paris and it wasn’t long after that word spilled out of France and ‘the race’ was born.

It is said that each year the beverage is transported by everything from balloons and helicopters, to elephants and runners in order to be ready for the third Thursday of each November.

Background notes on the Langham

Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when the Langham Hotel in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.

For information on the Langham Hotel, Auckland, please visit
www.langhamhotels.com/langham/auckland/

ENDS

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