Father's Day is a perfect opportunity to express your gratitude to your father.
Father's Day in 2025 falls on Sunday, June 15, so many people may be seriously thinking about what to give as a gift.
The Japanese wine online store "CRAFT WINE SHOP," which has one of the largest selections of Japanese wine, naturally recommends "Japanese wine" as a Father's Day gift.
This time, we will introduce carefully selected red wines perfect for Father's Day gifts.
These are all exquisite Japanese wines that will please fathers who love alcohol.
Please use this as a reference.
Japanese wine is recommended for Father's Day!
Many people are probably wondering what kind of gift to give on Father's Day.
According to a survey by the Father's Day gift specialty media "Father's Day.jp," the top gift people want to give on Father's Day is food and gourmet items (33.2%), followed by alcohol and beer (26.0%), indicating that a significant number of people are considering giving alcohol as a gift on Father's Day.
※Reference https://chichinohi.jp/survey068/
Also, various surveys show that alcohol ranks high among gifts that made fathers happy on Father's Day, so if your father likes alcohol, he will surely be pleased.
However, the question is what kind of alcohol to give as a gift.
Previously, on Nihon Wine.jp, we published a column titled "Father's Day 2023 is June 18! The perfect gift for Dad is 'Japanese Wine'!" As the title suggests, the site recommends Japanese wine for Father's Day.
※Reference https://nihonwine.jp/enjoy-nihon-wine/chichinohi/
In the above column, we recommended Japanese wine for the following reasons.
- Many fathers want alcohol as a gift
- Appreciated even by those not knowledgeable about wine
- Easy to pair with Japanese cuisine
- It can be a conversation starter when deciding on travel destinations.
Especially, the points "appreciated even by those not knowledgeable about wine" and "easy to pair with Japanese cuisine" are key.
Let's reiterate the two points above.
Appreciated even by those not knowledgeable about wine
Japanese wine has the advantage of being appreciated even by those not familiar with wine.
Of course, wine connoisseurs or those knowledgeable about Japanese wine will be even more pleased, but even fathers who usually prefer beer, sake, or whiskey won't dislike it.
It's not that imported wines are bad, but for those not familiar with wine, they can seem difficult, and even if they drink somewhat expensive wine, it often ends with "I think it's tasty, but I don't really understand it." (Honestly, they might have preferred a craft beer assortment.)
On the other hand, even those not knowledgeable about wine can feel reassured by the presence of place names like Yamanashi, Nagano, Hokkaido, or Osaka, indicating the wine is made in Japan.
Especially for fathers who still have the old image of "souvenir wine," this is a chance for the giver to explain that "Japanese wine now has very high quality and is attracting attention worldwide."
Fathers who receive Japanese wine may be surprised by its quality and might boast to colleagues, drinking buddies, or sports friends, saying, "I got this Japanese wine, and it's really good!"
Even fathers who usually stick to French or Italian wines will be impressed by the quality of Japanese wine.
Another reason Japanese wine is recommended for Father's Day is the high likelihood that the gift recipient will be pleased.
Easy to pair with Japanese cuisine
It is no exaggeration to say that the greatest charm of Japanese wine is its wide range of pairings.
It pairs exceptionally well with Japanese cuisine, making it a great choice for Father's Day gifts.
Even those who love Western, Chinese, or ethnic cuisine find Japanese wine pairs effortlessly, but many families might serve luxurious Japanese meals on Father's Day (a New Year's-like idea).
Also, as mentioned in the gift survey for Father's Day, many people choose to give food and gourmet items as presents, and these often include rare delicacies and luxurious ingredients from within Japan.
Japanese wines often have a pleasant aroma that is not too strong and a wine quality that is elegant and well-balanced.
Even with a robust full-bodied type, it does not interfere with the flavors of Japanese cuisine and has a gentle, supportive characteristic not found in imported wines.
From dishes simmered in soy sauce, mirin, and sake to fresh seafood sashimi and sushi, and strong-flavored Japanese seasonings like sansho pepper, green onions, wasabi, bonito flakes, ginger, and myoga, it will not clash with any of these distinctive "Japanese" flavors.
If your father has a favorite izakaya (or a restaurant serving Japanese food) that allows bringing your own alcohol, enjoying Japanese wine BYO is also a good idea.
If you are giving a gift, choose a slightly expensive red Japanese wine!
Even if you say you want to give Japanese wine for Father's Day, the next concern is which brand to choose.
At "CRAFT WINE SHOP," we recommend a slightly expensive red Japanese wine especially for Father's Day.
The red Japanese wines recommended by the same shop are of a quality that satisfies everyone, from beginners to Japanese wine, those who like imported wines, and those who are somewhat knowledgeable about Japanese wine.
Many high-end red wines are full-bodied types with a rich taste, making them perfect for gifts.
Although it is full-bodied, as a Japanese wine, it has a refined finish with a balance of delicacy and elegance, fruitiness and tannins, acidity, and texture.
Of course, it pairs excellently with Japanese cuisine, and since each brand has a story, sharing it with the recipient makes it taste even better.
Let's introduce the red Japanese wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP" for Father's Day.
Château Mercian / Mariko Merlot 2019
The terroir series "Mariko Merlot 2019" crafted by "Château Mercian," a winery Japan proudly presents to the world.
This is a full-bodied red wine mainly made from Merlot grown in the Mariko Vineyard in the Maruko area of Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
The 2019 vintage, which had the highest harvest ever, has a well-balanced body with aromas reminiscent of dried fruit, concentrated fruit, and powerful tannins.
You can enjoy rich fruit aromas such as blackberry, cassis, and raspberry, along with spicy nuances like forest undergrowth and tobacco.
It pairs well with hearty dishes like beef steak and oven-baked spare ribs, but it is also a wine that goes well with Japanese cuisine such as sukiyaki with domestic brand beef, simmered alfonsino, and grilled eel with kabayaki sauce.
Of course, you can also enjoy aging.
Château Mercian / Mariko Merlot 2019
6,688 yen including tax
Click here to purchase!
Usada Winery / Chichibu Rouge Premium Cuvée Whisky Barrel Aged & Mizunara Oak Chip Infused
Usada Winery, which brews Usada Wine, born and raised in Chichibu.
Chichibu is the only sake-producing region in Saitama Prefecture that produces five types (whiskey, beer, sake, shochu, and wine), and it is also known for the high quality of its wine.
"Chichibu Rouge Premium Cuvée Whisky Barrel Aged & Mizunara Oak Chip Infused" is a very unique Japanese wine, as the name suggests, aged in whisky barrels and infused with Mizunara oak chips.
A red wine made from Muscat Bailey A and Merlot harvested in Chichibu City, aged in whisky barrels delivered from a distillery in Chichibu.
Furthermore, it is a rich bottle that has been roasted and infused with Japanese Mizunara oak chips.
A rich fruit flavor typical of red wine, mellow quality, tannins and richness from whisky barrels, and the subtle sweet aroma of Mizunara wood are all balanced to create a unique taste.
The Chichibu sea of clouds label photographed by Yuji Shibasaki also doubles the special feeling.
A red wine that makes you want to enjoy it with processed meats made from domestic pork or as a drink after dinner.
Usada Winery / Chichibu Rouge Premium Cuvée Whisky Barrel Aged & Mizunara Oak Chip Infused
Including tax: 4,400 yen
Click here to purchase!
Iwanohara Vineyard / Zenbei 2022
Iwanohara Vineyard in Niigata Prefecture was founded by Zenbei Kawakami, the creator of Muscat Bailey A.
"Iwanohara Vineyard Zenbei 2022" is Iwanohara Vineyard's finest bottle and a dignified red wine perfect as a Father's Day gift.
The ingredients are Muscat Bailey A, Black Queen, and Bailey Alicante. The 2022 vintage had light rain during the rainy season and a large temperature difference during the harvest period, resulting in small grape berries and clusters and extremely high-quality grapes.
Only carefully selected grapes from the harvest are used for fermentation, maximizing the high aroma and concentrated flavor, resulting in an extremely luxurious finish.
Rich and expansive fruit flavors, pleasantly long-lasting acidity, and tannins derived from the barrel that offer volume and texture.
Iwanohara Vineyard, which produces Japan's finest Muscat Bailey A, and their top-tier Zenbei.
It pairs excellently with Japanese cuisine, but first, please enjoy the wine on its own slowly.
Iwanohara Vineyard / Zenbei 2022
Including tax: 16,500 yen
Click here to purchase!
Summary
For a Father's Day gift, we recommend a slightly premium Japanese red wine.
If it's Japanese wine, both wine connoisseurs and those not familiar with wine will surely be very satisfied.
For this Father's Day, why not try giving Japanese wine as a gift?
