It is precisely because Japan has four seasons that I want to choose Japanese wine according to the season.
If you get through the cold winter, what comes next is spring, wrapped in gentle warmth.
How about choosing a spring-like Japanese wine that can make you feel a little more glamorous, unique to this season?
In this article, I will introduce 3 recommended "CRAFT WINE SHOP" "Japanese wines to drink in spring".
All of the wines are charming and enhance the enjoyment of spring. If you're looking for wines that embody the essence of spring, be sure to check them out.
What's the best wine for spring?
Any wine can be enjoyed deliciously throughout the year, regardless of the situation.
On the other hand, we unconsciously choose wines according to the seasons: crisp and refreshing white wine in the hot summer, slightly rich red wine or medium-bodied white wine in the autumn when food becomes more delicious, and full-bodied wines in the winter when hearty meals increase.
In such a context, what kind of wine do you want to choose in spring?
I have summarized the following information about recommended wines for spring from the "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
- If you're looking for a spring-like wine, rosé is the way to go.
- Wines that go well with spring-like ingredients
- An elegant medium-bodied red wine
I will explain each one.
Rose is the go-to spring wine in Japan
If you are to choose a spring wine from Japan, you cannot overlook rosé wine.
Rosé wine is generally recognized as a "wine for hot seasons," and in countries like France and others, it evokes the image of summer.
However, when you think of spring in Japan, you think of cherry blossoms.
Speaking of cherry blossoms, it's cherry blossom color (pink)! Therefore, "rosé wine" has become a staple as spring wine in Japan.
For that reason, various countries' rosé wines take over the wine shelves in Japan during spring, but if you want to drink a "spring-like rosé," please be sure to choose a Japanese rosé wine.
Japanese rosé wine is generally delicate and elegant, possessing a beauty that evokes a fleeting feeling, like cherry blossom petals falling.
Rather than being a powerful rosé with an overly rich aroma and strong wine quality, it is characterized by a type that exquisitely combines the charm, supple strength, and complexity of white wine with the characteristics reminiscent of red wine.
The delicacy that complements a wide range of dishes is characteristic of Japanese wine, and the versatility of rosé wine, which pairs well with Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines, makes it easy to enjoy a variety of dishes during cherry blossom viewing.
By the way, Japanese rosé wine pairs exceptionally well with Japanese dishes such as chirashi sushi and clam soup, and its vibrant appearance also enhances the atmosphere of the occasion.
Japanese rosé wines are often easy to drink even for beginners, making them a great choice for parties during the spring season when people who don't usually drink wine tend to gather.
Wines that go well with spring-like ingredients
If you want to enjoy Japanese wine throughout the four seasons, you should be particular about "choosing wines that pair with seasonal ingredients."
Ingredients that come into season in spring are characterized by being fresh and juicy, and they are also rich in nutrients.
In spring, there are also many ingredients that evoke sweetness and bitterness, making it a season where dishes with a different charm from the rich, hearty, and robust autumn and winter ingredients begin to increase.
In the spring season, vegetables such as spring cabbage, celery, watercress, bamboo shoots, new onions, new potatoes, shungiku, rapeseed flowers, and broad beans are in circulation.
Furthermore, if it is seafood, it is famous that species such as Spanish mackerel, sea bream, whitebait, black sea bream, flounder, first bonito, and clams are in season during spring.
A fresh and delicate white wine that evokes the scent of herbs, accompanied by the sweetness of fruit and a refreshing acidity, while also leaving a subtle bitterness on the finish, can be said to pair well with spring ingredients.
Rather than wines that are rich in umami, juicy and jammy, and have abundant tannins, I would like to choose refreshing Koshu, Delaware that gives a sense of sweetness, and Kerner with elegant fruit sweetness and refreshing acidity, as well as Sauvignon Blanc that has a clean herbal note.
An elegant medium-bodied red wine
When it comes to recommended Japanese wines for spring, we tend to lean towards rosé and white wines that have a balance of freshness, fruity sweetness, and acidity.
On the other hand, red wine is the star of the autumn and winter seasons, while in Japan, spring seems to hand over that role to rosé wine.
However, even in spring in Japan, red wine is a leading presence.
Among them, the medium-bodied elegant red wine pairs well with the spring ingredients mentioned above, and it shows an excellent compatibility with roast beef, teriyaki chicken, yakitori, and braised pork that can be enjoyed during cherry blossom viewing.
Also, basashi, which is loved in Japan, is said to be in season during spring and is famous for being called "sakura meat."
Additionally, there is also a day called "Doyo no Ushi no Hi" in late April during spring, when people eat eel.
Varieties such as Muscat Bailey A, Zweigelt, and Black Queen, as well as Japanese Merlot and Pinot Noir, produce elegant medium-bodied red wines that pair well with Japanese cuisine and are also highly satisfying on their own.
"While rosé and refreshing white wines are appealing for cherry blossom viewing, I want something with a bit more body, but a full-bodied wine feels too heavy."
At such times, a medium-bodied elegant red wine can be said to be the best choice.
"CRAFT WINE SHOP" Recommended Spring Wines: Top 3 Picks
"Three recommended spring wines from 'CRAFT WINE SHOP' that you want to drink in spring and definitely want you to try, are introduced below."
Mount Fuji Winery "SAKUYA"
The Japanese wine I would recommend for spring is "SAKUYA" from Fuji Mountain Winery.
Fujisan Winery, which has its own vineyards in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Makikyo Town, Yamanashi Prefecture.
"Known as the closest winery to Mount Fuji," this popular winery mainly cultivates Koshu.
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One of the features of Fuji-san Winery is that grapes are cultivated at high altitudes ranging from 600m to 900m.
Grapes are grown in an ideal cultivation environment suitable for world-class grape cultivation, characterized by a cool climate and significant temperature differences between day and night.
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The "SAKUYA" produced by the Fuji Mountain Winery is a rosé sparkling wine perfect for spring.
"SAKUYA" is available in two varieties: a bulk blend of high-quality wines imported directly from overseas and blended at the winery, and the "SAKUYA-Domestic Wine Blend-" which is a blend of Koshu and Muscat Bailey grapes harvested from our own vineyards.
A simple rosé sparkling wine blended with 50% Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, resulting in a finish where the charm of both varieties is felt in balance.
A pale rose color reminiscent of gentle cherry blossoms, with a charming aroma of red fruits derived from Berry A, and a fresh citrus scent typical of Koshu.
A refined rosé sparkling wine with gentle effervescence and a delicate mouthfeel, yet surprisingly sharp acidity that lingers firmly on the finish.
"Feeling the citrus, plum, and juicy umami, the overall impression is elegant."
This is a perfect piece for early spring, wrapped in soft sunlight and gentle warmth.
By the way, the name "SAKUYA" is said to be derived from the goddess of Mount Fuji in Japanese mythology, "Konoha no Sakuyahime."
Like wine, beautiful episodes are also a charm.
Mount Fuji Winery "SAKUYA"
2,750 yen including tax
Click here to purchase!
Fujisan Winery "SAKUYA" Recommended Pairing
"SAKUYA" is a rosé sparkling wine that is a well-balanced blend of the charm of Koshu and Muscat Bailey A.
Elegant texture, a soft flavor that is not too assertive, and fresh acidity pair perfectly with spring ingredients.
For this time's recommended pairing, we have combined it with "Spring Salad with Firefly Squid."
This is a simple dish of firefly squid, rapeseed flowers, and fine bamboo shoots dressed with lemon, olive oil, and herb salt.
The bitterness of hotaru ika and nanohana, along with the bitterness from the fine bamboo shoots, match well with the bitterness derived from Koshu.
The refreshing aroma of lemon citrus and rosé sparkling wine harmonizes, with a soft effervescence and acidity that leaves a clean aftertaste, completing a spring-like refreshing pairing.
Even with ingredients that may have a strong flavor, such as hotaru-ika, if they are native Japanese varieties like Koshu or Muscat Bailey A, they can be paired without clashing, so I recommend them.
You can also deliciously pair hotaru ika with scallops, sea bream, and other ingredients.
Kimura Cellars "Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022-2023"
"As a recommended wine for spring, we also introduce Kimura Cellars' 'Marlborough Pinot Noir.'"
As you may have noticed from the name Marlborough, this wine is not produced in Japan but in New Zealand, and surprisingly, the producer is Japanese.
Kimura Cellars is a winery established in 2009 by Shigekazu Kimura, who comes from a Japanese restaurant background, and his wife, Mieko Kimura. Since 2018, they have owned their own vineyards of Sauvignon Blanc and are producers who create wines that utilize the delicate sensibilities of the Japanese.
New Zealand may have a strong image of Sauvignon Blanc, but it is also actively cultivating Pinot Noir, and in recent years it has gained attention as a region producing high-quality Pinot Noir that rivals the renowned Burgundy.
The Pinot Noir vineyards used for Kimura Cellars "Marlborough Pinot Noir" are cultivated in a high-altitude, cool area known as the Awatere Valley, and combined with the well-draining soil called silt loam, it allows for the harvest of refined Pinot.
This is a bottle filled with dedication, including fermentation after low-temperature maceration and aging for 11 months in French oak with a 20% new barrel ratio.
The aroma of red fruits such as raspberry, cherry, and red plum typical of Pinot Noir can be strongly felt, along with the varietal characteristic of violet fragrance, and you can enjoy a complex flavor enhanced by sweet spices like clove and cinnamon derived from the barrel.
The tannins are surprisingly silky, and the wine has a pure and elegant quality with a firm acidity.
"The first bonito of spring, roast beef, horse sashimi, and game meat are all ingredients that pair well together, making them perfect for bringing along a Western-style bento for cherry blossom viewing."
The label features cute petals in its design, making it seem like it will enhance the spring celebration.
Kimura Cellars "Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022"
6,050 yen including tax
Click here to purchase!
Kimura Cellars "Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023"
6,050 yen including tax
Click here to purchase!
Soryu Winery "Japan Wine Sakura"
"The recommended spring wine you want to use for a glamorous scene is Aoryu Wine's 'Japan Wine Sakura'."
"A famous winery that no Japanese wine fan is unaware of, Aoryu Winery, was established in 1899 in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture."
The wine that this winery produces, perfect for spring, is "Japan Wine Sakura."
As the name suggests, the label features a delicate design of cherry blossom petals, which, combined with the gentle hue of the rosé, evokes the image of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Furthermore, the wine is lavishly adorned with gold leaf, making it an extremely luxurious bottle inspired by the image of elegantly dancing flower petals.
Not only is the visual impact impressive, but the stable quality typical of a long-established winery is also appealing.
Made primarily from Kōshū grapes and blended with the Japanese native variety "Muscat Bailey A" for coloring, it features a gentle aroma, sweetness, and delicate acidity, making it easy to drink even for those who usually do not drink wine.
Since it is mainly made from Koshu grapes, it pairs well with slightly bitter spring vegetables, refreshing spring fish, chirashi sushi, tempura, and fried foods in general, making it perfect for hanami bento.
"Of course, cherry blossom viewing is a highlight, but its vibrant presence also makes it highly versatile for spring events such as joining ceremonies, entrance ceremonies, and welcome/farewell parties."
The deliciousness, of course, but also the visual impact makes one want to choose wine, which is a characteristic of spring, don't you think?
Soryu Winery "Japan Wine Sakura"
1,364 yen including tax
Click here to purchase!
summary
Spring is a season that tends to make us feel more positive, and it's a time when we want to choose different wines than usual.
"Especially during the cherry blossom viewing season, you definitely want to choose 'sakura color = rosé wine.'"
Of course, in addition to rosé, I also recommend a selection of refreshing white wines and elegant medium-bodied red wines that pair well with spring ingredients.
I'm unsure what kind of wine to choose in spring.
If you are such a person, please refer to "CRAFT WINE SHOP" to choose your wine.
