Between the two world wars, Beaujolais was the most expensive wine region in France. The Beaujolais Nouveau craze of the 1980s sentenced it to 30 years of mediocrity, but thankfully this old and charming region is very much on the up again.

Winemakers like Thibaud Baudin are driving the new Beaujolais forward. Although he’s only 37, his CV is impeccable. Following stints at Paul Jaboulet, Domaine de la Vougerie and Domaine d’Henri, he settled in Juliénas in 2018 with wife Antonie and two young kids.

Juliénas tends to make a more earthy and powerful style of Beaujolais, thanks to its great sun exposure and varied soils. It’s still pretty undiscovered - one third of the wines come out of the main village cooperative, so you have nowhere near the number of small estates that are popping up in places like Fleurie and Morgon.

Discovering Thibaud is exactly why I love what I do - these are brilliant wines from lovely people in an undiscovered part of the world. It’s a joy and honour to introduce them to you!