Swansea Celebrates Beaujolais Day Amid Cold Weather

Swansea, Wales, transformed into a glittering hub of revelry on Thursday as thousands of residents and visitors marked Beaujolais Day, braving frigid temperatures to celebrate the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau wine with elaborate outfits and lively gatherings in the city's nightlife district.

The event, held on the third Thursday in November as mandated by French law, drew crowds to hotspots like Wind Street, where bars and restaurants such as No Sign Wine Bar and Morgans Hotel overflowed with partygoers. Revelers, many in strappy dresses and high heels despite temperatures dipping to 2 degrees Celsius, raised glasses to the young, fruity wine made from Gamay grapes harvested just weeks earlier in France's Beaujolais region. The night featured music, DJ sets, and spontaneous toasts, turning the streets into a vibrant scene of laughter and camaraderie.

Beaujolais Nouveau's release begins at midnight in Beaujeu, the region's capital, where more than a million cases embark on a global race to markets. In France, celebrations remain relatively subdued: producers roll barrels through Lyon streets, and in Paris, small groups sample the wine at bistros with oysters and...