How To Watch

You can find the recording of this live webinar in our community space here

Summary

Think you know Beaujolais? Think again. This Beyond the Textbook webinar with Natasha Hughes MW challenges some of the most persistent myths about the region and reveal a Beaujolais full of complexity, diversity, and surprise. For too long, the narrative has been simplified: granite soils in the north, limestone in the south; bubblegum and banana aromas; light reds to drink young. The truth, as Natasha shows, is far richer.

From the extraordinary geological diversity—over 300 distinct soil profiles identified in a decade of research—to the wealth of old vines rivaled only by Languedoc-Roussillon, Beaujolais has the raw materials for greatness.
 
Add in the variety of winemaking techniques (carbonic, semi-carbonic, Burgundian, and even thermo-vinification), and you begin to see why no two Beaujolais are alike. Along the way, Natasha higlights case studies of iconic crus like Morgon’s Côte du Py, delve into the often-overlooked story of Beaujolais whites, and ask why the region is still undervalued compared to its Burgundian neighbors.

If you want to go beyond the clichés and understand why Beaujolais deserves to be taken seriously as fine wine, this is the session not to miss.

This webinar also coincides with the launch of Natasha's wonderful new book on the region 'The Wines of Beaujolais', available now from the Academie du Vin. WSG Members are entitled to a 25% discount, just use the code WSG25 at checkout.

About the Speaker

Natasha Hughes is a freelance wine and food writer, consultant and educator. Her exploration of the world of wine began when she ran a catering company part-time while at university. It blossomed on her return to London, after six years spent working in TV production and publishing in Australia, when she became deputy editor for Decanter online, the website of the UK's leading consumer wine magazine. On leaving the magazine in 2001, Natasha began a successful and diverse career that has included writing for some of the world's most respected magazines and websites. Her first solo book, The Wines of Beaujolais, was published in 2025 by the Academie du Vin Library. In addition to writing, she consults for businesses and private clients and hosting seminars and tastings for members of the trade and the public. Her love of, and skill with, food and knowledge of the on-trade has led to stints as a restaurant reviewer, as well as consultancy work for a number of restaurants. Natasha also judges at wine competitions around the world. She graduated as an MW in 2014, winning four out of the seven available awards that year, including the Outstanding Achievement Award for best overall performance in the exams.