If you’ve never been on the Beaujolais Run®, you’ve missed out on a whole lot of fun… and some superb wine too.
In 1970, celebrity chef, Clement Freud was sitting down to dinner in Romanèche with restaurateur, Joseph Berkmann, when they hit upon the idea of challenging each other to be the first to get their respective cases of Beaujolais Nouveau back to London. Berkmann won.
Both men had columns in prominent British newspapers, and through these, their gentle teasing of each other about the challenge soon piqued the attention of their readers. Berkmann also won the challenge in 1971 but by then, other people wanted in on the fun.
In 1973, another columnist for the Sunday Times, opened up the challenge, offering a bottle of Champagne to the first person to Bring Back the Beaujolais, and delivering a bottle to his desk. The Royal Air Force won the challenge by using a Harrier jet!
These days the focus has shifted from speed to raising money for charity; every penny from sponsorships goes directly to the Henry Surtees Foundation.
Details of the event are a closely-guarded secret, only revealed at the team briefing the night before the ‘Run begins; however, the rally’s starting point is always in Britain, and continues through France’s most beautiful countryside, to end in Beaujolais. Along the way, there are visits to châteaux, vineyards, and cellars, plus fine dining, and of course, the chance to sample the wonderful wine that France has to offer.
The winner is no longer the first to get back to the UK with their case of wine but whomever raises the most money for the charity, with the runner-up being the person or team who completes the ‘Run in the shortest distance.
You can find out more on the official website, where you can also register for this year’s ‘Run.