One of the Japanese wineries gaining worldwide attention is "Vinoble Vineyard & Winery" (hereafter Vinoble Vineyard & Winery).
It is a popular winery located in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima, led by grower and winemaker Mr. Takashi Yokomachi.
This time, we introduce this ultra-rare wine released by the same winery.
This is the first release wine of "Project 933," themed around the "connection" between Japan and Hong Kong.
An ultra-rare wine only available at "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
A must-try for Japanese wine fans.
About Vinoble Vineyard & Winery
Vinoble Vineyard & Winery is located in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
This winery, founded in 2021 by grower and winemaker Mr. Takashi Yokomachi, gained global attention when its 'Sauvignon Blanc 2021' won a gold medal with the highest score of 95 points at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition 2022).
Besides working as a winemaking consultant, Mr. Yokomachi also serves as Executive Director of the grapevine nursery company "Lagphase," showing his diverse roles.
Furthermore, being a self-proclaimed clone enthusiast, various clones of different varieties are cultivated in their own vineyard.
Also, to fully express the terroir of Miyoshi City and the grape varieties' individuality and to avoid risks like heavy rainfall during the growing season, Mr. Yokomachi adopted "trellis cultivation."
The vineyard uses no herbicides or chemical fertilizers, only compost fermented from food residues and bark, cultivating healthy, high-quality grapes.
Their winemaking aims for clean wines that express varietal characteristics, finishing by trying many patterns to create well-balanced wines while observing the condition of the harvested grapes.
They focus on a winemaking style called Gentle handling, which means minimal human intervention.
Vinoble Vineyard & Winery aims for a luxurious style leaning towards grand vin, highly acclaimed worldwide. Not only have they won awards at wine competitions, but their Semillon sparkling wine was also chosen as the toast wine at the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023 Partners Program dinner, steadily establishing themselves as a winery producing representative Japanese wines.
About "Project 933"
The two wines that are the first release of "Project 933" are the wines from Vinoble Vineyard & Winery that "CRAFT WINE SHOP" recommends.
Let's share the story of what exactly "Project 933" is and what kind of wine was created.
About "Project 933"
"Project 933" is a project themed around the connection between Japan and Hong Kong.
This wine, a collaboration between world-renowned Hong Kong-based sommelier Mr. Reese Choi and Vinoble Vineyard & Winery, is the first release and is available in seven countries and regions worldwide, including Japan.
Mr. Reese Choi, who collaborated with the winery this time, is the first Asian to earn the Master Sommelier title and ranked third in the World's Best Sommelier Competition, making him a top-level sommelier globally.
The collaboration was sparked when Mr. Yokomachi encountered Vinoble Vineyard & Winery's wines at a Japanese wine competition held in Hong Kong in 2022.
Mr. Yokomachi responded to Mr. Reese Choi's passionate call.
Starting from grape cultivation, Mr. Reese Choi frequently visited the winery from Hong Kong, directly involved in tasks such as pruning, harvesting, winemaking, and blending, while coordinating with Mr. Yokomachi.
In 2023, after a 10-day stay at the winery and a two-week final check in 2024, the dream collaboration wine was finally completed.
The wine name "Project 933" is the sum of Hong Kong's international dialing code "+852" and Japan's "+81."
The stamp design label symbolizes a gift from Miyoshi, featuring photos taken by Mr. Reese Choi himself.
"Project 933" is a wine born from the connection between Japan and Hong Kong, taking two years from project start to wine release.
Get your hands on these gems crafted by a winery attracting global attention and the world’s top sommelier.
About the wines of "Project 933"
The first release of "Project 933" includes two wines: Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon and Chardonnay.
With production limited to 900 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon and 300 bottles of Chardonnay, and released in seven countries and regions worldwide including Taiwan and Finland, only 40 bottles of Chardonnay and 120 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon are available in Japan, making it a very hard-to-get wine.
In Japan, it’s only available at Vinoble Vineyard & Winery on site and at the "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
Let’s introduce the rare wine "Project 933," which you can only get here.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933, Chardonnay 2023
A gem of Japanese wine born from the collaboration between Japan’s proud Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and world-renowned sommelier Rees Choi.
A clean-tasting wine made from homegrown Chardonnay, harmonizing oak aromas with fruit flavors.
Distinctive fresh citrus aromas of lemon, grapefruit, and lemongrass.
A rich medium-bodied wine with fragrant aromas of vanilla, toast, and nuts, lively acidity, and a clean, fresh finish that harmonizes beautifully with oak.
Try pairing it with tempura of shrimp and other shellfish, fried oysters, or meunière of white fish.
The stamp-style label is a monochrome photo taken by Rees Choi himself, showing the station building of JR Shiomachi Station near the winery’s own vineyard.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933, Chardonnay 2023 - 11,858 yen (tax included)
Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2023
A white wine born from the collaboration between Japan’s proud Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and world-renowned sommelier Rees Choi.
A blend of 50% homegrown Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillon, which can be called the signature of Vinoble Vineyard.
Features aromas of freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit citrus, herbs, lychee, and tropical passion fruit.
Fresh nuances typical of Sauvignon Blanc, followed by a lingering finish with the rich fruitiness characteristic of Semillon.
A medium-bodied wine characterized by a smooth, honey-like texture with gentle and definite richness.
Pairs well with citrus-flavored, tangy fish and vegetable dishes, as well as rich Western dishes using butter or milk, thanks to its full-bodied fruit flavors.
This stamp-style label features a photo of the platform at JR Shiomachi Station.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2023 - 8,228 yen (tax included)
[Limited Quantity] Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933 4-Bottle Wine Set
A 4-bottle wine set including one bottle of 'Project 933, Chardonnay 2023' and three bottles of 'Project 933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2023.'
You can purchase it at a better price than buying individual bottles.
A rare chance to get highly limited, ultra-rare wines at a great value.
This set is also recommended for those who want to enjoy aging their wine.
[Limited Quantity] Vinoble Vineyard / Project 933 4-Bottle Wine Set - 33,220 yen (tax included)
Summary
With Japanese wine gaining global attention, "Project 933," born from the collaboration between Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and Rees Choi, is sure to receive high praise.
A dream collaboration realized through the passionate call of world-renowned sommelier Rees Choi.
A must-have that’s sure to sell out, be sure to check out this rare bottle available only at the "CRAFT WINE SHOP" while you can.
At Japan Wine.jp, we also introduce restaurants where you can enjoy "Project 933"!
Read the article here!
