Respect for the Aged Day was established to honor elderly people who have contributed to society over many years and to celebrate longevity. In 2025, Respect for the Aged Day falls on Monday, September 15 (public holiday).
Some may want to gather parents, grandparents, and relatives on Respect for the Aged Day to celebrate with delicious food and drinks.
This time, "CRAFT WINE SHOP" has prepared two Japanese wines recommended for Respect for the Aged Day.
CWS’s recommended Japanese wines to brighten your special day.
Please use this as a reference.
Celebrate Respect for the Aged Day with Japanese wine!
Respect for the Aged Day is a national holiday established in 1966 to honor elderly people who have contributed to society over many years and to wish for their health and longevity. (The Holiday Act was revised in 2001, and since 2003, Respect for the Aged Day has been observed on the third Monday of September.)
Respect for the Aged Day in 2025 is Monday, September 15 (public holiday).
Many families gather on the day or around it to celebrate with parents, grandparents, and relatives. By the way, there is no set age for those celebrated on Respect for the Aged Day; nowadays, it’s common to celebrate from the 70s or when grandchildren are born.
Now, if you are celebrating Respect for the Aged Day, you want to enjoy a festive meal. At such times, Japanese wine is recommended. Here’s why.
Expressing Japanese uniqueness and elegance
The charm of Japanese wine lies in being a local sake made in Japan combined with the elegance that wine offers. Respect for the Aged Day often brings to mind sake or premium beer, but some may want to choose other drinks because of reasons like “too strong alcohol content,” “getting full from alcohol alone,” or “lack of freshness.”
Also, not only the person being celebrated drinks alcohol; there may be people who don’t usually drink, including women. Imported wines are attractive, but in terms of Japanese uniqueness, they differ somewhat, and with so many options, it can take time to choose, often ending up with the usual drinks.
That’s why Japanese wine. It has grown to a quality recognized worldwide and is no longer the souvenir wine of the past. It is complex yet easy to drink, perfectly matching the delicate Japanese palate. It’s sure to be appreciated with comments like, “I didn’t know such wonderful wine existed.”
A wide range of pairings creates an enjoyable dining experience.
Japanese wine also has the charm of being “easy to pair with Japanese cuisine.” Whether made from native Japanese grape varieties or international varieties, many have aromas and flavors with a subtle Japanese nuance and a nostalgic feel. That doesn’t mean the quality is low; the varietal characteristics are well expressed, making these wines uniquely attractive and gaining attention. Their delicacy pairs well with Japanese flavors and does not clash with raw fish, strong-flavored seafood like salmon roe, sea urchin, or shellfish. They also complement Western, Chinese, and ethnic dishes without conflict, so you don’t have to worry about pairing.
By the way, there is no set menu for the traditional meal on Respect for the Aged Day. Still, from the theme of “celebration and happiness,” red rice, chirashi sushi, sashimi platters, shrimp, sea bream, abalone, and simmered dishes are said to be popular. These dishes and ingredients pair excellently with Japanese wine, and even if you combine them with meat dishes like roast beef or sukiyaki, pairing is no problem.
Because Respect for the Aged Day is a bright and special day that comes once a year, please create the best memories with Japanese wine.
Two Japanese wines recommended by CWS for Respect for the Aged Day
"CRAFT WINE SHOP" recommends these Japanese wines for Respect for the Aged Day. Let’s introduce two bottles: a sparkling wine that adds a festive touch and a long-aged Koshu wine.
Vinoble Vineyard / Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021
Vinoble Vineyard, a popular winery in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, produces the sparkling wine "Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021."
This winery makes wine with the desire that “people who like grand vins should drink it,” and its quality is highly regarded worldwide.
"Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021" is a Champagne-style wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown and harvested in their own vineyard.
After barrel fermentation, it undergoes 9 months of barrel aging, 6 months of aging in stainless steel tanks, followed by secondary fermentation in the bottle. Remarkably, it then ages in the bottle for 44 months, with each bottle carefully riddled and disgorged by hand, followed by an additional 2 months of aging, making it a long-aged sparkling wine.
In Champagne’s prestigious millésime (vintage) range, a minimum of 36 months aging after bottling is required, but this wine’s exceptional 44 months far exceeds that standard.
Its complex aroma and flavor, fresh acidity, and a long finish that seems to last forever surpass the quality of Champagne. Also, the way its character changes over time after opening is part of the fun. It’s perfect for celebrating Respect for the Aged Day.
Vinoble Vineyard / Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021
12,000 yen including tax
More details about the wine here
Chateau Katsunuma / Koshu 2005
Chateau Katsunuma is a long-established winery located in Katsunuma Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, a renowned wine-producing region in Japan.
As the name suggests, "Koshu 2005" is a 2005 vintage Koshu wine, meaning it has been aged for 20 years.
Chateau Katsunuma is known as a prestigious winery producing high-quality Koshu. This wine is made from carefully late-harvested grapes grown in the Hishiyama district of Katsunuma Town, Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Although it is a dry type, it is finished with a slight sweetness. It is made with low-temperature fermentation to preserve the aroma, resulting in a fragrant and festive wine perfect for celebrations. It is a rare long-aged type of Japanese wine with guaranteed quality.
Additionally, it’s slightly sweet, making it a food-friendly wine that pairs well with a wide range of dishes. It goes excellently with Japanese seasonings like soy sauce, mirin, sake, dashi, and miso, and even dishes that might seem difficult to pair with wine, such as salt-grilled sea bream and eel, are handled effortlessly.
Because it’s a day to honor longevity, long-aged Japanese wine is a perfect match. Please give it a try.
Chateau Katsunuma / Koshu 2005
8,800 yen including tax
More details about the wine here
Summary
Because it’s Respect for the Aged Day, you want to celebrate with a festive drink. For those who feel that way, why not try gathering some Japanese wines?
The wines introduced this time, Vinoble Vineyard "Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021" and Chateau Katsunuma "Koshu 2005," are perfect Japanese wines for Respect for the Aged Day.
Enjoy the special occasion when your family gathers with Japanese wine on Respect for the Aged Day.
