Give Japanese wine to someone special.
"CRAFT WINE SHOP" offers a wide selection of Japanese wines perfect for such people.
This time, "CRAFT WINE SHOP" recommends Japanese wines ideal as gifts for wine beginners and women.
Introducing orange wines with vibrant colors and easy drinkability, as well as sweet wines with moderate sweetness that expand pairing possibilities.
Of course, the quality will also please wine connoisseurs, so please consider these as gift ideas.
Easy-to-drink wines are recommended as gifts.
When it comes to gifts that please those who love alcohol, wine is a top choice.
Among them, Japanese wine is a category that has recently attracted attention and is an ideal gift item for women with a keen sense of style.
The charm of such Japanese wines is, above all, that they are easy to drink even for beginners.
With a floral yet modest and elegant aroma, soft texture, and acidity and tannins that are not overpowering, it is also recommended for wine beginners.
However, just as there are various types of wine, not all "Japanese wines" can be said to follow the same direction as described above.
Some people, especially wine beginners or women seeking easy-to-drink options, may find authentic dry wines that win awards at competitions or trendy natural wines "difficult."
Furthermore, when you want a cute and glamorous appearance, you might wonder which Japanese wine to choose.
Therefore, at "CRAFT WINE SHOP," we have prepared the following two types of Japanese wines recommended for wine beginners and women.
- Easy-to-drink orange wine
- Sweet wines with an attractive, refined sweetness
These wines are new releases from CruX's original popular series "THANKS, LOVE."
Let's briefly explain each.
Easy-to-drink orange wine
Recently, "orange wine" has gained attention as one of the global wine trends.
Orange wine does not use oranges as an ingredient; rather, it is a type of white wine whose color turns orange due to a different fermentation process than typical white wines.
Although the orange wine category itself has emerged recently, its production method is believed to have originated in Georgia, known as the birthplace of wine.
After placing the grape skins, seeds, and pulp into an unglazed clay vessel called a Qvevri, it is buried underground to ferment, producing distinctive wines with an amber color even though they are white wines.
Modern orange wines are based on the above-mentioned Qvevri method, where white grape skins and seeds are fermented together, resulting in white wines with an "orange" hue that are called orange wines and sold on the market.
The hallmark of orange wine is undoubtedly its vibrant orange appearance.
This unique color, neither red, white, nor rosé, uplifts the mood.
Additionally, because the skins are also included in the fermentation, the wine features aromatic scents derived from the grape skins, which is another characteristic.
Aroma notes of white peach, white flowers, vanilla, orange peel, and apricot create a refined flavor that is mellow yet balanced with moderate bitterness and astringency.
Although there is astringency and bitterness, it is only subtly felt and should be considered an important element that adds texture to the wine.
The production method of orange wine is unique, but it is aromatic and easy to drink, making it a category that even wine beginners can enjoy without hesitation.
The pairing range is broad, and it goes exceptionally well with fermented foods, seafood, and charcuterie like ham.
Surprisingly recommended is noodle soup base, which pairs beautifully with zaru soba, offering a unique marriage with Japanese wine.
CruX / THANKS, LOVE ORANGE
From the popular series "THANKS, LOVE," an orange wine has arrived.
A bottle with an adorable label design featuring elegant botanical patterns, a heart in the center, and orange-pink coloring.
Using Muscat Bailey A, Shine Muscat, Pione, and Koshu grapes from Yamanashi Prefecture as raw materials, this wine is finished with a technical brewing method that combines tradition and innovation by fermenting the grapes whole, including the skins, in stainless steel tanks and Georgian earthenware amphorae, the birthplace of wine.
It has a beautiful, shining orange color, aromas of orange peel, floral notes, and white peach, and is a fruity, easy-to-drink orange wine with a slight residual sweetness.
Recommended pairings include oyster gratin, pork sautéed with a sweet sauce, and salads with octopus, squid, or shellfish.
It pairs well with vibrant salads loaded with fruit and cheese.
It’s a floral and fruity wine that women and wine beginners will likely enjoy.
CruX / THANKS, LOVE ORANGE
Including tax, 1,980 yen
Go to the purchase page here!
Sweet wines with an attractive, refined sweetness
Sweet wine gifts are also recommended for wine beginners and women.
However, choose refined sweet wines that don’t have an overly sugary, cloying sweetness.
Sweet wine is made by stopping fermentation partway through, leaving sugar in the wine before bottling.
Alcoholic fermentation in wine is when yeast breaks down sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, and normally fermentation ends when yeast consumes all the sugar.
Naturally, wines with no sugar left are dry wines.
Sweet wines are made by stopping yeast activity during fermentation, so sugar remains in the wine because it is not fully consumed by the yeast.
However, to make high-quality sweet wine, grapes with high sugar content must be used as raw materials.
Therefore, many sweet wines use grapes that are late-harvested, affected by noble rot, frozen on the vine, or have several times the sugar content of grapes used for dry wines.
On the other hand, producers strive to obtain high-sugar raw materials through various methods, such as naturally increasing grape sugar content or sun-drying harvested grapes.
A high-quality sweet wine is characterized not only by its smooth texture and natural grape sweetness but also by complex elements such as fruit and floral aromas and sharp acidity.
While it has sweetness, it also has the sharpness of a dry wine, making it surprisingly good with food, especially spicy dishes like ethnic cuisine.
Of course, it’s also excellent on its own or paired with sweets.
It’s a gift that will please not only wine beginners and women but also wine connoisseurs.
CruX / THANKS, LOVE PREMIUM SWEET
A sweet wine from the popular "THANKS, LOVE" series, made with great care.
The label color is gold-based, with a luxurious contrast with blue, making it perfect for gifts.
The taste of "THANKS, LOVE PREMIUM SWEET" is extremely sweet.
This wine is made by concentrating high-quality Koshu grapes from Yamanashi Prefecture using a method called frozen juice preparation, using three times the amount of grapes compared to typical dry wines, making it a "premium" sweet wine.
Additionally, it is unfiltered and untreated for tartrate, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor of the base wine directly, which is another highlight.
Its deep golden color gives a luxurious impression.
It features a rich aroma condensed from tropical fruits and a soft fruity scent.
An elegant sweet wine that, despite being very sweet, also has a sharp acidity.
It pairs well not only with sweets like cakes and scones but also with spicy dishes such as Chinese and ethnic cuisine, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions.
A rich gift that wine beginners and women will appreciate.
CruX / THANKS, LOVE PREMIUM SWEET
Including tax, 6,600 yen
Go to the purchase page here!
Summary
Japanese wine is a great gift for those who love alcohol.
The two wines introduced this time are the fruity, floral, and easy-to-drink orange wine "CruX / THANKS, LOVE ORANGE" and the exquisite sweet wine "CruX / THANKS, LOVE PREMIUM SWEET."
The label is cute, and the contents are authentic yet easy to drink, packed with the charm of Japanese wine—this is a highly recommended wine.
Why not consider using it as a gift for someone special?
