Words, Words, Wine: Beaujolais Nouveau party at Café Rouge

As if we ever need an excuse to sit down with a good glass of wine, the Alliance Française de Manchester teams up with Café Rouge (pictured) this month to present its annual Beaujolais Nouveau Day party – a celebration of the first of the new season’s Beaujolais wines. Traditionally held on the third Thursday in November (but taking place on the Friday here), the event will feature in an evening of gastronomy, literary readings (in both French and English) and wine tasting, with the introduction of four wines from the Beaujolais area in France. As well as the Beaujolais Nouveau itself, other wines being introduced in the tasting session will be: Domaine les Roches Bleues, Brouilly, Le Cru du Volcan; Domaine Champs du Chêne, Juliénas and Réserve Personelle, Mâcon Charnay. Washed down with two further glasses of the Beaujolais Nouveau (perfect to encourage discussion among Francophiles), no wine would of course be complete without some French nibbles to match. Booking is required.

Fri 22 Nov, Café Rouge, Unit One, The Printworks, M4 2BS, 8.30pm – 11pm, £12 – email event@afmanchester.org to book, www.facebook.com