Juliénas is an appellation covering wines produced from vineyards in the north of the Beaujolais region of eastern France. The red, Gamay-based wines of Juliénas often show characters of spice, flowers and red fruit.
These tend to be heavier than those of the neighboring appellation of Saint-Amour and some other southern counterparts. Despite this, Juliénas wines tend to have a shorter lifespan and are best drunk no more than two to three years from vintage. As in most Beaujolais appellation laws, a small amount of white wine is permitted in the Juliénas blend.
The village of Juliénas is named for the Roman leader Julius Caesar. Vineyards have been established here for more than 2000 years.