Of the 102,000 kiloliters of wine domestically produced that year, only a fifth came from domestically grown and harvested grapes. Japanese muscat grapes, botanically classified as Vitis vinifera, are sweet, aromatic fruits belonging to the Vitaceae family. Grapes are usually eaten on their own, but are also used for making wines. If you are interested to try some Japanese wine for yourself right now, these are a few options to seek out in the States: Subscribe to Winetraveler and receive notifications when new articles are published. [2] The first regularly documented wine consumption in Japan was however in the 16th century, with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries from Portugal. However, in recent years, drier varieties and barrel aged varieties have also been developed. It makes a soft and fruity wine boasting citrus and peach. The koshu, for example, is thought to have taken the Silk Road from the shores of the Caspian Sea and is now the finest Japanese grape. There are over 300 wineries in Japan today. Keeping Japanese cuisine in mind the wineries make more dry and subtle wines for the local market. He is selling two grape varieties at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market – Black Beat and Shinano Smile – as well as Japanese pears. In areas higher in the mountains, such as Tochigi, where good sunlight is at odds with the jagged terrain, winemakers have planted their hedges on steep hillsides both to receive a maximum of sunlight, as well as protect the vines against damage from heavy snowfall. Typically, meals are paired with sake or beer, but Japanese wine has a place at the table as well. Japan supports a wide range of grape varieties although the vast majority of this production is for table consumption and only a small percentage is used in domestic wine making. Japanese maples need: While some can tolerate full sun, most Japanese maple varieties prefer dappled or afternoon shade, especially when young. If you are someone who is keen on watching a region grow and find their niche, keep your ear to the ground about wines from Japan. The characteristics of Muscat Bailey-A are a very grape juice-like flavor and it is most widely used in sweet amakuchi wines. Just like putting grapes in my mouth, the taste and fragrant aroma is of the grape–that is why I like it.” – Jun Nagahashi. [2] Saint Francis Xavier brought wines as gifts for the feudal lords of Kyūshū, and other missionaries continued the practice, resulting in locals acquiring taste for wine and importing it regularly. They can be grown in the garden, in containers and of course they are ideal s… Jun Nagahashi, owner of natural wine bar, Wineba in Chofu has a focused list of small farmer wines –Grape Republic in Yamagata being his favorite. Website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_wine&oldid=992546270, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles with Japanese-language sources (ja), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. He did this by mixing the "Bailey" (ベーリー) type grape with "Muscat Hamburg" type grape to give birth to a red wine grape that is widely used in Japan. According to data from Japan's National Tax Agency for 2017, approximately 382,000 kiloliters of wine was purchased in Japan, of which two-thirds was imported wine. Although viticulture and the cultivation of grapes for table consumption has a long history in Japan, domestic wine production using locally produced grapes only really began with the adoption of Western culture during the Meiji restoration in the second half of the 19th century. First developed in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1957, Pione is hands down my favorite Japanese grape. It may be surprising to know that, although a relatively new style to Western audiences, it has actually been produced by Japanese wineries for over a century. The first attempt to produce wine locally, using mainly sake brewing equipment, was undertaken by Hironori Yamada and Norihisa Takuma in Kofu, Yamanashi, in 1875. Research and field observations indicate that Japanese beetles prefer smooth, thinner type grape leaves which are characteristic of many wine grape varieties (e.g., Chardonnay, Traminette, and Vidal Blanc). Honshu and Kyushu, for example, are known for being incredibly wet most of the year. Horizontal trellises have also proven effective in reducing wind damage from typhoons. Characteristics of wines made from the Koshu grape are typically a pale, straw colour and a soft, fruity bouquet with overtones of citrus and peach. ... Kyoho grapes are a Concord-like cross (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca) between Ishihara and Centennial grape varieties. In Japan there is no nationwide organization of legal designation, regardless of domain of origin or types of grape, anything that is fermented domestically can be labeled as "Japanese wine". In Japan, it’s common to give fruit to friends, family members and bosses as a gift, oftentimes in a beautiful, wooden box. Imported wine grape cultivars include Müller-Thurgau, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Koshu is a white wine grape variety grown primarily in Yamanashi Prefecture. Japan supports a wide range of grape varieties although the vast majority of this production is for table consumption and only a small percentage is used in domestic wine making. While finding the best examples of natural wine. Vertrees & Peter Gregory Published in 1978, Japanese Maples is the most comprehensive collection of information regarding the many varieties of Japanese Maples out there. Strictly speaking there are no vines native to Japan,[10] although the Koshu white wine grape has evolved locally over many centuries and is therefore considered an indigenous variety. Cultivation methods vary among each of these vastly different climates. She is an international wine judge for the IWSC, where she uses the skills she has learned in her WSET Diploma training. “I love Vin Nature wine. Showy Asian Grapes. RELATED: 8 Unusual & Unique Wineries To Visit Around The World. [3] It was not until 1873 however, after detailed reports on European wine culture were made available by returning members of the Iwakura Mission, that more focused attempts were made to promote domestic wine production. Also developed by Kawakami was the variety known as "Black Queen" (ブラッククイーン). The government is protecting the domestic grape market by levying higher tariffs … Tsuyoshi Takemura of, Other varieties are seen below in the chart from the, Best Wine Styles to Pair with Different Kinds of Pizza, Tasting Texas Hill Country Wine at Fall Creek Vineyards, Canned Wine: Myths Busted, Facts Uncovered, 10 Practical Tips To Maintain Your Health & Energy During a Wine Trip. There are countless varieties of grapes, and particularly popular Japanese varieties are the blackish-colored Kyoho grapes, the green Shine Muscat grapes, and the reddish-purple Delaware grapes. [11] Hardy varietals imported from North America such as the Delaware and Niagara grape were widely planted in the post war period, but since 1985 have significantly declined in popularity. The variety was first produced by a Japanese viniculturist, Yasushi Ohinoue in the 1930s and 1940s, by crossing Ishiharawase (itself a variety of the "Campbell Early") and Centennial grape varieties (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca). Additionally, Japanese beetles appear to show preference for grape varieties with smooth, thin leaves which are unfortunately characteristic of many wine grape varieties (e.g., Chardonnay, Traminette, and Vidal Blanc). Tsuyoshi Takemura of Mashino Winery prefers to work with these grapes, as well as cider apples. Other varieties are seen below in the chart from the Japanese Wineries Association. I first tasted... 2. For example, some grape varieties — known as table grapes — are typically eaten fresh or made into dried fruit or juice, while others are favored for winemaking. Grapes are in season during late summer and early autumn. Muscat Bailey-A has been blended with western grapes creating a very full bodied, Bordeaux style flavour. In Yamagata during World War II wine was produced in large amounts for the military to provide the dietary supplement cream of tartar, and because the soil in Yamagata is suitable for fruit cultivation, today it is one region that is home to numerous well known producers. Classically this grape is used to make wine, and though the Burgundy region in France … This page provides Japanese agriculture information on [Grape] including the information such as yield/acreage trends, farmers, products, blogs, cultivars, best season, nutritions, foods etc., along with rankings, charts and pictures. Despite looking very much like a grape and the locals calling it the Japanese Sea Grape this is a species of seaweed! Compared with many other trees and shrubs they have few pests or diseases and are versatile enough to thrive in locations ranging from full shade to full sun. Some cultivars, such as ‘Kyoho,’ ‘Muscat Baily A,’ ‘Neo Muscat,’ and ‘Hiro Hamburg,’ were identified from the crosses between V. vinifera and V. labruscana or between vinifera grapes in the middle 20 th century. [9] Smaller, family or city owned wineries of note gaining a reputation for producing domestically grown wines of consistently better quality include Marufuji, Kizan, Katsunuma Jozo, Grace (all in Yamanashi Prefecture) Takeda (Yamagata Prefecture) and Tsuno (Miyazaki Prefecture). In addition, different blending has led to smoother Bourgogne/Burgundy varieties. One of the most popular Japanese varieties of grapes is the dark purple Kyoho grape, which is particularly large. Hardy varietals imported from North America such as the Delaware and Niagaragrape were widely planted in the post war period, but since 1985 have significantly … This eventually became Chateau Mercian, the first private winery in Japan. This can make the vineyards particularly susceptible to diseases and pests. This … Legend has it that grape-growing in Japan began in 718 AD, in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture. This eventually became Chateau Mercian, the first private winery in Japan. This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 21:03. But with time Koshu wines are blended with different varieties of wines that give flavor of mineral and herb along with lemon. Ruby Roman table grapes at a wholesale market in the central Japanese city of Kanazawa on Photo taken July 7, 2016. The grape varietal developed from vines likely imported from the Caucasus through the Silk Road, at a period estimated to be around a thousand years ago. Also, in response to demand from Japanese consumers, the production of organic wines also became popular. On sloping land, Italian ryegrass is often planted under the vines to help prevent soil erosion. Tokyo is a natural wine lover’s paradise. Kyoho Japanese breeders cross-bred the bluish-purple American Concord grapes to develop the Kyoho in the early 20th century, and today, it is the most popular variety in Japan, accounting for a third of all of the table grapes grown. In Hokkaidō, the town of Ikeda recovered economically from a state of bankruptcy with regional planning toward grape growing and wine production and within 20 years following 1960 was able to make it successful. 15 Types of Grapes That You Can Taste in Japan 1. First grown in 1991, Aki Queen is … Brand New! [13] The grape is a hybrid variety indigenous to Japan, and benefits from a relatively thick skin able to withstand the damp of the Japanese Summer. Japanese Maple Handbook Japanese Maples: The Complete Guide to Selection and Cultivation by J.D. The varietal most often seen is Koshu, a hybrid indigenous to Japan with a thick-skin that helps it survive damp summers. "Mark of Origin" (原産地表示, Gensanchi Hyōji) is a system of legal designation for wine produced in Japan, much like France's Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) laws and the United States' American Viticultural Area (AVA) designations. In 1907, Shinjiro Torii, founder of the Suntory beverages empire launched Red Sun Port Wine (赤玉ポートワイン, Akadama Pōto Wain) with an advertising campaign in 1922 that both scandalized with its suggestion of nudity, and prompted a huge boost to sales. New Pione is referred to as ‘Black Pearls’ and Shine Muscat are a new variety – all are made in OKAYAMA with pride. [14] The name “Koshu” is a former name for Yamanashi. But that fact has not discouraged several winemakers – exclusively from classified properties – from deriding certain aspects of this new endeavor. Jun Nagahashi, owner of natural wine bar, In Ryusei Kobayashi’s, Sake and Wine Bar in Sendai—, “In Japan it is difficult to do wine making in a natural way, due to the difficulty of the cultivation environment–for example, it is very rainy. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Kawakami's goal was to develop a grape for wine adapted to Japan's climate. Her by-line can be also be found in Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, InCider Japan, The Cork Report and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. However, large populations of beetles can also cause considerable leaf injury to lesser preferred varieties such as Concords (Figure 5). 100 Seeds / Pack Sweet Kyoho Grape Seeds Advanced Fruit Seed Natural Growth Grape Delicious Gardening Fruit Plants 1.5 out of 5 stars 4. These trees have a reputation for being hard to grow, but this is largely undeserved. [7] All the major beverage conglomerates have access to domestically grown grapes, but given the challenge of climate on domestic grape production, three quarters of the wine bottled by Japanese producers relies to some extent on imported bulk wine or grape concentrate. There are relatively few independent wine producers in Japan, the industry being dominated by large beverage conglomerates such as Suntory, owner of the Snaraku, and Manns Wine brands, Sapporo trading with brands such as Chateau Lion, Delica, and Kirin through its Mercian Corporation operating subsidiary, owner of the Chateau Mercian label. The locally grown large and… It all started in the Yamanashi prefecture in the 1870’s, when two men returned from studying wine production in France and decided to give it a try. The trend for sweetened, fortified and medicinal tonic wines continued until the 1970s when wine was still fundamentally known as grape liquor (葡萄酒, budōshu), and only a small minority imported and drank European wine.3. In Japan the main regions for wine production, listed in order of production volume of wine made from domestically-grown grapes, are Yamanashi (31%), Nagano (23%) and Hokkaidō (17%). There are Merlot grapes from France, and Iwadarehara Merlot grapes from Japan. Pinot Noir. Ruby Roman grapes, grown in central Japan, are among the most expensive in the world, prized for their sweetness and low acidity. Originating from abroad, but grown in Japanese soil, these expressions showcase the world’s most famous grape varieties, sculpted through Japanese skill. document.getElementsByTagName('Head')[0].appendChild(_wsc); Copyright Wine Traveler, LLC © 2020. Known for delicacy in style, these wines make lovely compliments to most regional dishes. Only 58 kiloliters of Japanese wine was exported overseas.[1]. Most Japanese wines are straightforward and pure and a number of wineries produce natural wines.