Well, looky here at the calendar. It’s getting to be the third Thursday in November, and you know what that means. No, not Thanksgiving; that’s the fourth Thursday. And not the Third Thursday art stroll downtown dealie. The third Thursday in November is the official release date of Beaujolais Nouveau, one of the all-time greatest marketing gambits. The French government, by making it a law that the newly fermented grape juice of the Beaujolais region could not be released to the public until midnight (actually, one minute past midnight, to be precise) of that specific day, created a sense of intrigue and anticipation. Tell people they can’t have something and they suddenly must have it.

Whatever. In this country it’s created a good excuse for wine lovers to have celebrations and parties to taste the new release. Americans love to co-opt other countries’ commemorations for their own celebrations, especially when the consumption of alcohol is involved (see: Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Lithuanian Arbor Day). Of course, usually the Beaujolais Nouveau festivities are in major cities such as New York. The best parties are put on by the folks associated with Georges Duboeuf, one of the largest producers of BN. I attended one a couple of years ago where the cases of Beaujolais Nouveau were delivered by a gang of motorcycle-riding chefs to a restaurant in lower Manhattan.

But this year the Duboeuffers are fanning out across the country with the celebrations, and one of them is going to be right here in Central Florida at our own Funky Monkey Pointe Orlando. The theme is Nouveau Cirque, which should give you an idea of what to expect. There will be acrobats, jugglers and other performers. And of course, the wine, which will flow freely. Well, not freely in the sense of cost, but for $15, which includes food and entertainment, as well as the wine, it’s a pretty darned good deal. But even better: 100% of the funds will go to Second Harvest Food Bank. So come on out, be among the first to taste the new Beaujolais 2010 and do something good, to boot.

The party is from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, November 18, at Funky Monkey Wine Company, 9101 International Drive, Orlando. For tickets, which are limited, so get cracking on this, go to feedhopenow.org.

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