Wine lovers in Bermuda joined those in other parts of the world last Thursday in a celebration of the debut of Beaujolais Nouveau 2004.

The tradition of having a day to uncork the two-month old French wine started in 1951 and is now marked on the third Thursday of every November regardless of the start of the harvest.

Manager of Fresco's Claudio Vigilante hailed this year?s vintage as "a lot fruitier and sweeter than last year".

"We are only the ones to bring in this wine which is better than last year, easier to drink. A full house was in attendance for this annual tradition to sample a fruity wine with a hint of banana, melon and berries," Mr. Vigilante said.

Beaujolais Nouveau is made from hand-picked Gamay grapes grown in the sunny regions near Lyon, in southern France. The Beaujolais Wines union reports some 56 million bottles will be sold in 150 countries this year.