{"title":"Yamanashi, Japan","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eYamanashi is Japan's wine capital in every measurable sense: home to over 90 wineries and responsible for approximately 30% of all domestic Japanese wine production, it holds Japan's oldest viticultural history and its most prestigious wine geographical indication. And it earned all of that on the back of a single grape that exists almost nowhere else on earth. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eGrape cultivation in Yamanashi dates to 718 AD in the mountain town of Katsunuma, where the indigenous Koshu grape was first cultivated. According to local legend, a well-respected monk named Gyōki had a dream of Bhaisajyaguru — the Buddha of healing and medicine — who was holding a bunch of grapes, which prompted cultivation of the vine. The Koshu grape's actual origins are more prosaic but equally interesting: it's now known to be a natural hybrid of Europe's Vitis vinifera and one or more East Asian Vitis species, most likely arriving in Japan via the Silk Road through China over centuries of gradual eastward migration. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eFor nearly a thousand years, Koshu was grown primarily as a table fruit. Winemaking in Japan didn't properly begin until the Meiji era (1868–1912), when the government — keen to modernize and create products equal to Western goods — actively pushed wine production as an alternative to rice-based alcohol. In 1877, two agronomists of the Dai-nihon Yamanashi Winery, Masanari Takano and Tatsunori Tsuchiya, were sent to France to learn how to make wine, returning three years later with the knowledge that shaped Japan's entire early wine industry. The winery they helped build eventually became Château Mercian, one of the most well-known wine brands in Japan today. \u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe geography that makes Yamanashi work is the same geography that makes it Japan's biggest fruit-producing prefecture. The Koshu Valley is an alluvial plain in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, framed by the Japanese Alps to the north and Mount Fuji to the south, with well-drained volcanic soils of clay, gravel, and silt — ground that was poor for rice but turned out to be excellent for grapes. The Kofu Basin records the most sunshine hours of any region in Japan, with significant diurnal temperature variation ideal for aromatic ripening, and annual rainfall is far lower than most Japanese regions thanks to the rain-shadow effect of the surrounding mountains. \u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eGI Yamanashi, awarded in July 2013, was the first official Geographical Indication for wine in all of Japan — Yamanashi leading the country's wine credentialing, just as it led its wine history\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fujimaru-farmers-chardonnay-2021","title":"Fujimaru Farmer's Chardonnay 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"group w-full text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 border-b border-black\/10 dark:border-gray-900\/50 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-[#444654]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base gap-4 md:gap-6 md:max-w-2xl lg:max-w-xl xl:max-w-3xl p-4 md:py-6 flex lg:px-0 m-auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"relative flex w-[calc(100%-50px)] flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3 lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-4 whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru Farmer's Chardonnay 2021\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrape varietal \u0026amp; region: \u003c\/b\u003eFujimaru Farmer's Chardonnay 2021 is a deliciously refreshing and crisp wine made with hand-selected Chardonnay grapes grown in \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eYamanashi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eIt boasts a clean and bright yellow hue, with notes of ripe apples and tropical fruits on the nose. On the palate, it offers a refreshing acidity and a delicate balance between fruity sweetness and mineral complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking process: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis wine is versatile and pairs well with many dishes, from fresh salads and seafood to grilled meats and creamy pasta. The grapes are fermented with wild yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve their natural flavors and aromas. With only 1200 bottles produced, this is a rare and exclusive wine that showcases the best of Japanese winemaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40272062185570,"sku":null,"price":76.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/products\/farmer_schardonnay.png?v=1740119030"},{"product_id":"fujimaru-table-top-daidai-iro-delaware-2021","title":"Fujimaru Table Top Daidai Iro Delaware 2023","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"group w-full text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 border-b border-black\/10 dark:border-gray-900\/50 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-[#444654]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base gap-4 md:gap-6 md:max-w-2xl lg:max-w-xl xl:max-w-3xl p-4 md:py-6 flex lg:px-0 m-auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"relative flex w-[calc(100%-50px)] flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3 lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-4 whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru Table Top Daidai Iro Delaware 2023\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape varietal \u0026amp; region: \u003c\/strong\u003eFujimaru Table Top Daidai Iro Delaware 2021 is a unique orange wine made from Delaware grapes grown in the vineyards of \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eYamanashi. The grapes are hand-selected and fermented with wild yeasts, resulting in a wine with a bright orange hue and a distinctive aroma of ripe oranges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eOn the palate, the wine is crisp and refreshing, with flavors of orange zest, apricot, and a hint of nuttiness. This wine pairs well with a variety of Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi, and tempura. It is best served chilled, making it a perfect wine to enjoy on a warm summer day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly a limited number of bottles are produced each year, making Fujimaru Table Top Daidai Iro Delaware 2021 a unique and highly sought-after orange wine from Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40272063004770,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/products\/fujimarutabletopdaidai-ito202101_1024x1024-removebg-preview.png?v=1740119029"},{"product_id":"fujimaru-orange-dela-qvevri-2021","title":"Fujimaru Orange Dela Qvevri 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru Orange Dela Qvevri 2021\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape varietal \u0026amp; region: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, located in Chuo-ku, Osaka, produces a unique Orange wine made from Delaware grapes from \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eYamanashi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis dry, medium-bodied wine has a medium amber colour, with an aroma of guava and pomelo, a sourness of yoghurt, cinnamon, lemon and grapefruit flavour, and a crisp acidity with a gentle bitterness. This wine is produced using wild yeast, has 30 ppm of added sulphites, and is unfiltered. It is recommended to serve at 14-16°C and store in a cool, dark place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking process: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe wine is fermented and matured in a Qvevri for seven months before being bottled and aged for another month. The longer maturation process has resulted in oxidative nuances that bring out a ripe fruit flavour, while the firm acidity remains centred and straightforward.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40311771856994,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/products\/fijumaru-orange.png?v=1740118933"},{"product_id":"fujimaru-table-top-delaware","title":"Fujimaru Table Top Delaware 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"group w-full text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 border-b border-black\/10 dark:border-gray-900\/50 bg-gray-50 dark:bg-[#444654]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base gap-4 md:gap-6 md:max-w-2xl lg:max-w-xl xl:max-w-3xl p-4 md:py-6 flex lg:px-0 m-auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"relative flex w-[calc(100%-50px)] flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3 lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-4 whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFujimaru Table Top Delaware 2022\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape varietal \u0026amp; region: \u003c\/strong\u003eFujimaru Table Top Delaware is a unique orange wine made from Delaware grapes grown in the vineyards of Kashiwara, Osaka.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eOn the palate, the wine is crisp and refreshing, with flavors of orange zest, apricot, and a hint of nuttiness. This wine pairs well with a variety of Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi, and tempura. It is best served chilled, making it a perfect wine to enjoy on a warm summer day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking process:\u003c\/strong\u003eThe grapes are hand-selected and fermented with wild yeasts, resulting in a wine with a bright orange hue and a distinctive aroma of ripe oranges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly a limited number of bottles are produced each year, making Fujimaru Table Top Delaware a unique and highly sought-after orange wine from Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40400938238050,"sku":null,"price":71.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/files\/fujimaruTableTop-800x800.png?v=1740118705"},{"product_id":"fuijamaru-glou-glou-orange","title":"Fujimaru Glou Glou Orange 2023","description":"\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru Glou Glou Orange 2023\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape Varietals \u0026amp; Region: \u003c\/strong\u003eA blend of Chardonnay \u0026amp; Delaware from Yamanashi, Japan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste Profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eAromas of elderflower, pineapple, melon, and lemon, with a hint of nutmeg-like spice and doughy notes. On the palate, a touch of orange-like sweetness, subtle grapefruit bitterness and a mineral presence. A well-integrated level of volatile acidity enhances the sweetness, creating a harmonious balance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking Process: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Glouglou series is vinified each year using a variety of varieties and blends, based on the concept of a wine that can be drunk in gulps\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay was directly pressed, settled for one day and then transferred to wooden barrels for barrel fermentation. Fermentation of the Chardonnay stopped around December and the wine entered the winter with sugar remaining, but in the spring the weather warmed up and the yeasts started working again, completing fermentation. Fermentation lasted a total of five months. After racking, the wine was transferred to stainless steel tanks for a further four months of ageing. The result is a Chardonnay with depth of flavour and soft acidity from the barrel fermentation. The wine was then blended with Delaware wine that had been fermented and macerated in separate stainless steel tanks to add to the pleasant and more drinkable characteristics of the wine\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42097000415330,"sku":null,"price":82.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/files\/Fujimaru-GlouGlouOrange.png?v=1754567617"},{"product_id":"fujimaru-glou-glou-rouge","title":"Fujimaru Glou Glou Rouge 2023","description":"\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru Glou Glou Rouge 2023\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape Varietals \u0026amp; Region: \u003c\/strong\u003eA blend of Merlot \u0026amp; Muscat Bailey A from Yamanashi, Japan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste Profile: \u003c\/strong\u003eOn the nose, hints of blackberry and ripe blueberry, layered with spices like white pepper and nutmeg, plus just a touch of bell pepper can be found. On the palate, it has the smooth tannins and gentle oakiness typical of barrel-aged Merlot, which then gives way to the light, fruity character and aroma of Muscat Bailey A on the finish. It has a flavor profile reminiscent of natural wines from Ardèche in France. Enjoy the wine on the day after opening it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking Process: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Merlot was destemmed, crushed, and fermented in open tanks for 22 days. The Muscat Bailey A underwent the same process, with a 20-day maceration and fermentation period. Fermentation was carried out with great care, applying minimal force to avoid stressing the fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter fermentation, the wines were promptly pressed and transferred to wooden barrels for 10 months of maturation. Following barrel maturation, the wines were racked and moved to stainless steel tanks, where they were blended. At the time of tank transfer, 20 ppm of sulphites was added to protect against oxidation. After allowing the wine to settle for one month, it was bottled.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42097000448098,"sku":null,"price":82.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/files\/Fujimaru-GlouGlouRouge.png?v=1754568293"},{"product_id":"fujimaru-budo-to-ikuru-delaware","title":"Fujimaru Budo To Ikuru Delaware 2024","description":"\u003ch1\u003eFujimaru \"Budo to Ikiru\" Delaware 2024\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFujimaru was making skin-contact Delaware before \"orange wine\" was a phrase anyone used in Japan — this bottling draws on Yamanashi fruit, the country's historic Delaware heartland.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape varietal \u0026amp; region\u003c\/strong\u003e: 100% Delaware, a hybrid grape with a 120-year growing history around Osaka and an even deeper one in Yamanashi Prefecture, sourced for this cuvee from Yamanashi growers working to Fujimaru's standards. Fujimaru Winery began in 2006 as a project to distribute interesting local Japanese wine; founder Tomofumi Fujimaru discovered Osaka's disappearing century-old grape-growing heritage and, in 2010, started farming an abandoned plot in Kashiwara City himself, focused on Delaware. The wines were an immediate hit, and the winery grew into a genuine urban negociant, working with outside growers held to the same standard the estate applies to its own fruit: no chemicals unless absolutely necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste profile\u003c\/strong\u003e: skin-contact Delaware sits in a category of its own — expect apricot and orange peel, a light grip of tannin from the skin contact, and the kind of textured, savoury edge that separates orange wine from a straightforward white. \"Budo to Ikiru\" translates roughly to \"Living with grapes\" — a fitting name for a wine built to go with food rather than sit on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking process\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fujimaru pioneered skin-contact fermentation on Delaware in Japan as early as 2014, before \"orange wine\" was a recognised term locally. All Fujimaru wines ferment on wild yeast with sulphite additions kept to an absolute minimum — no specific technical sheet is published for this particular vintage, so treat the skin-contact approach as the house style rather than a cuvee-specific confirmed spec.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/strong\u003e: Tomofumi Fujimaru didn't set out to become a winemaker — he founded his company to sell other people's wine, and only backed into growing grapes himself when he saw Osaka's viticultural heritage disappearing under urban development. That founder's instinct — save what's disappearing, then figure out how to make it sing — still shapes the winery's approach to a grape most of the wine world had written off as a table variety.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimaru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43103072976994,"sku":null,"price":71.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/files\/Fujimaru-BudoToIkuru.png?v=1783859451"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/1339\/1970\/collections\/Japan-Yamanashi.png?v=1783865868","url":"https:\/\/boundbywine.com\/collections\/yamanashi-japan.oembed","provider":"BoundbyWine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}