Fattoria AL FIORE / hana 2024 (Red) 750ml

“Hana,” which has been consistently crafted since the release of the Neko series, mainly features Steuben grapes from Toshinobu Kazama, a nearly 80-year-old farmer in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Mr. Kazama, always cheerful, energetic, and lively, quickly befriends the harvest volunteers and is a wonderful father figure in Yamagata. Despite his advanced age, the grapes he cultivates and nurtures improve every year, and I have nothing but respect for him.
In 2024, Mr. Kazama truly outdid himself!!
Steuben, a Labrusca variety grown for fresh consumption, has larger berries compared to varieties dedicated to winemaking, making it challenging to produce a well-structured wine. However, in our pursuit of Japanese uniqueness, wines made carefully from delicate and subtle Labrusca grapes blend seamlessly into everyday Japanese life without feeling out of place.
Consequently, the winemaking process requires far more precision and delicacy than with varieties dedicated to wine. Until now, blends with Neo Muscat and Merlot were used, but this time, for the first time, I believe we have expressed a wonderful balance using only Steuben. I hope to continue in this direction, so please look forward to it.