IN his continuing search for the more weird, whacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says the French take their winemaking seriously, and the annual release of the famous Beaujolais Nouveau at midnight on the third Thursday of every November – while a fun event across the nation – is still considered a very serious matter amongst connoisseurs.
So they were probably mortified to hear what the folk at a resort in Japan did last month with their beloved 2009 vintage of this great wine: they poured a container load into a Jaccuzi and, sacre bleu, heated it up… so guests could go for a swim in it.
The Hakone Kowakien Yunessun in Central Japan is one of the country's more unusual spa resorts, and as well as bathing in the waters of its hot springs, also offers such weird options as taking frolics in that warm Beaujolais Nouveau, and hot green tea, sake and coffee.
And thankfully, during last month's antics management kept enough of the Beaujolais Nouveau aside for guests to partake of in a normal fashion – from a glass.
