One of the Japanese wineries attracting attention worldwide is "Vinoble Vineyard & Winery (Vinoble Vineyard & Winery) *hereinafter, Vinoble Vineyard & Winery."
It is a popular winery located in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima, represented by the grower and winemaker Takashi Yokomachi.
This time, we will introduce an extremely rare wine released by the same winery.
That is the first release of "Project 933," themed around the "connection" between Japan and Hong Kong.
An extremely rare wine that can only be purchased at "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
A must-drink for Japanese wine fans.
About Vinoble Vineyard & Winery
Vinoble Vineyard & Winery is located in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
The winery is a new winery established in 2021 by grower and winemaker Takashi Yokomachi, and gained worldwide 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).
Mr. Yokomachi is a person with diverse roles, including working as a winemaking consultant and serving as the executive director of "Lag Phase," a grapevine nursery company.
Furthermore, being a self-proclaimed clone enthusiast, various clones of different varieties are cultivated in their own vineyard.
Also, Mr. Yokomachi adopted "trellis cultivation" to avoid risks such as heavy rainfall during the growing season and to firmly express the terroir of Miyoshi City and the individuality of the grape varieties.
The vineyard does not use herbicides or chemical fertilizers, only compost fermented from food residues and bark compost, cultivating healthy and high-quality grapes.
The winemaking aims to be clean and express the characteristics of the grape varieties, finishing by trying many patterns to create a well-balanced wine while observing the condition of the harvested grapes.
They strive for a style of winemaking called Gentle handling, which means minimal human intervention.
Vinoble Vineyard & Winery, which aims for a luxurious style leaning towards grand vin, is highly regarded worldwide, not only for its awards at wine competitions but also for having its Semillon sparkling wine chosen as the toast wine at the Partners Program dinner of the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023, steadily advancing as a winery that produces wines representing Japan.
About "Project 933"
This time, the two wines that "CRAFT WINE SHOP" would like to recommend from Vinoble Vineyard & Winery are the first releases of "Project 933."
Let's tell 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 is a collaboration between the world-renowned sommelier Mr. Rees Choi, who lives in Hong Kong, and Vinoble Vineyard & Winery, and the first release is available in seven countries and regions worldwide, including Japan.
This time, Mr. Rees Choi, who collaborated with the winery, is the first Asian to obtain the title of Master Sommelier and is a world-class sommelier who won 3rd place in the Best Sommelier of the World competition.
At a Japanese wine competition held in Hong Kong in 2022, it is said that the encounter with the wines of Vinoble Vineyard & Winery was the trigger for the collaboration.
Mr. Yokomachi responded to Mr. Reese Choi's passionate love call.
Starting from grape cultivation, Mr. Reese Choi frequently visited the winery from Hong Kong, directly involved in pruning, harvesting, brewing, and blending, while continuing coordination 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" comes from adding Hong Kong's international dialing code "+852" and Japan's "+81".
The stamp-design label, symbolizing a gift from Miyoshi, uses 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 gem wines 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 a very limited production of 900 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon and 300 bottles of Chardonnay, it was released in seven countries and regions worldwide including Taiwan and Finland, but only 40 bottles of Chardonnay and 120 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon are sold domestically in Japan, making it a hard-to-get wine.
In Japan, it can only be purchased at the Vinoble Vineyard & Winery site and the "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
Let us introduce the rare wine "Project 933" that can only be obtained here.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project933, Chardonnay 2023
A gem of Japanese wine born from the collaboration between Japan's proud Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and world-renowned sommelier Mr. Reese Choi.
Using homegrown Chardonnay, this is a clean-tasting wine with a harmony of barrel aroma and fruitiness.
It is characterized by fresh citrus aromas such as lemon, grapefruit, and lemongrass.
This wine has a rich medium-bodied type with a fragrant aroma of vanilla, toast, and nuts, lively acidity, and a clean, fresh finish that harmonizes with the barrel.
Try pairing it with tempura of shrimp and other crustaceans, fried oysters, or meunière of white fish.
The stamp-style label features a monochrome photo taken by Mr. Reese Choi himself, showing the JR Shiomachi Station building near the winery's own vineyard and brewery.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project933, Chardonnay 2023 Tax included 11,858 yen
Vinoble Vineyard / Project933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillion 2023
A white wine born from the collaboration between Japan’s proud Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and the world-renowned sommelier Mr. Rees Choi.
A blend of 50% home-grown 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 passion fruit tropical scents.
Refreshing nuances typical of Sauvignon Blanc, followed by a lingering finish with the rich fruitiness characteristic of Semillon.
A medium-bodied wine characterized by a mellow, honey-like, rich texture with a definite depth.
Pairs well with citrus and sour-flavored fish and vegetable dishes, as well as rich Western dishes using butter or milk due to its full-bodied fruitiness.
This stamp-style label uses a photo of the platform at JR Shiomachi Station.
Vinoble Vineyard / Project933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillion 2023 ¥8,228 tax included
[Limited Quantity] Vinoble Vineyard / Project933 4-bottle wine set
A 4-bottle wine set including one bottle of 'Project933, Chardonnay 2023' and three bottles of 'Project933, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillion 2023.'
You can purchase it more economically than buying single bottles.
A rare chance to get ultra-rare wines with limited quantities at a great value.
This set is also recommended for those who want to enjoy aging the wine.
[Limited Quantity] Vinoble Vineyard / Project933 4-bottle wine set ¥33,220 tax included
Summary
Now that Japanese wine is attracting global attention, "Project 933," born from the collaboration between Vinoble Vineyard & Winery and Mr. Rees Choi, is sure to be highly praised.
A dream collaboration realized through the love call of the world-renowned sommelier Mr. Rees Choi.
A must-sell-out, please take this opportunity to check out this precious bottle only available at "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
On Japan Wine.jp, we also introduce restaurants where you can drink "Project 933"!
Read the article here!
