Every fall on the third Thursday of November, wine producers from the Beaujolais region release the first bottles of the year's harvest in the annual "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé" campaign that began in the 1960s. "Today is a day of rebirth, after all the crises we have endured," remarked Alain Fontaine, owner of Le Mesturet, as he offered complimentary glasses of Beaujolais outside his restaurant in Paris. Parisians enjoyed the free wine, despite Beaujolais - a light red wine that is only a few weeks or months old - struggling to shake off its reputation for being inexpensive. "It's a pleasant little wine. It may not be the finest grand cru, but it is enjoyable and reasonably priced," commented Felix, an employee at the French national library. Wine producers in France are feeling less optimistic due to a forecast of the lowest wine output in history, caused by various weather-related challenges such as spring frost, hail, and disease impacting vineyards. The farm ministry predicts a production level one quarter below the average of the past five years, with the Burgundy-Beaujolais region experiencing a nearly 50% decrease in output. Beaujolais Nouveau winemaker Julien Revillon expressed frustration over the increased manual labor required this year, resulting in a 30% loss of harvest. Despite the disappointing results, Revillon noted that people are still very attached to the Beaujolais tradition, viewing it as a chance to reconnect with others after months of isolation. During challenging times, individuals hold onto their customs. Despite war or a pandemic, people still desire to celebrate events like Christmas or the Beaujolais Nouveau. Marie-Francoise, a 90-year-old from Paris, initially did not like the new Beaujolais but later changed her opinion after trying it again. She now believes it is an excellent wine with no better alternative. The words were spoken by her.