URL www.grace-wine.jp
e-mail info@grace-wine.jp
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Grace Winery Co.ltd.
173 Todoroki Katsunuma-cho,
Koshu-Shi,
Yamanashi, 409-1315 Japan
TEL 0(+81)553-44-1230
FAX 0(+81)553-44-0924
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In 1923, Chuo Budoshu was established in Katsunuma the birthplace of the wine industry. Our brandname is Grace Winery.
We are making efforts to make good quality wine while taking into account the climate and the soils and as well as using modern techniques.
In spring 1990, we started Vertical Shoot Positioning of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. After that we increased the vineyard with the viticulture of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir and we placed the Akeno vineyard in 2002.
In reference to Koshu, the Japanese traditional variety, the grapes are grown in a mountainous district , which increases the concentration of flavor.
The soils, climate and viticultural efforts all help to produce highly concentrated grapes and therefore high quality wines.
Grace Winery Director Shigekazu Misawa
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Koshu
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Japanese native grape Koshu
Winemaking in Japan began about 130 years ago. The most important variety in Japan is Koshu, which came from Central Asia The origin of Koshu grapes is the Caucasus Region in Asia Minor and came through the Silk Road to China, and then went to Japan with Buddhism. Koshu was said to be first cultivated about 1300 years ago. The Koshu vines bear light-purple fruit. In fact, Koshu is the Japanese original white wine variety and research by University of California,Davis has shown that, the vine is more than 90 percent Vitis Vinifera.
Now Katsunuma , in the Yamanashi region is the most famous area for the viticulture of Koshu, thanks to the favorable location and climatic conditions. It is also inland and has the typical valley climate, longer sunshine, less rainfall and there is a big difference of temperature between day and night. These conditions are so important to have good grapes. Furthermore, rivers from the mountains flow into the place where orchards and vines grow, giving good drainage and good soils to extend the roots. We can say that this is the best land to cultivate grapes.
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GRACE Winery believes in the possibility of Koshu
We have the belief that good wine only comes from good grapes. We are making much of the place of production. Grace Winery has taken notice of Toriibira district and Hishiyama district , high elevation in the mountain in Katsunuma,where we can get concentrated grapes. We specify the vineyards by each place of production and make wine.
We are committed to high quality viticulture. In Toriibira, we aim at getting more concentrated grapes and we are engaged in changing positioning system from cane pruning to long cordon with contract farmhouses. Koshu has been cultivated by nearly all the other wineries with cane pruning trained on to overhead wires or platforms as other table grapes because regarded as table grapes. It is difficult to have grapes for good quality wine when a vine bears so much fruit,using long cordon, the yield is limited and the level of sugar content is much higher.
And long cordon training system is so simple to work that we can save working hours as well as our working processes compared to Tanazukuri. In 2006,we finally successed to Koshu's densely planting like vertical shoot positioning.
Furthermore, we have began engaged in cultivating vines from seed, for the last twelve years. We are experimenting with the DNA genes for Koshu to try and find the original Koshu vine. This differs from the way we raise Koshu from saplings so far; Koshu has a totally different nature if it is grown from seed. It is said that the possibility that the original Koshu grapes can be found has a probability of one in ten thousand. But Grace Winery will continue to develop the essential qualities of Koshu grapes.
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Cane pruning ;
traditional training system
”Tanazukuri”
Long cordon;
concentrated grapes bear from spur
We check every leave if the old gene
suited to winemaking
can be found.
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Grace Koshu
100% grapes from Katsunuma
Alcohols 12%vol.
Capacity; 750ml
Type; dry - sur lie
Colour
Pale lemon yellow,fine and brilliant.
Nose
Fresh,delicate grapefruit and lemonaromas,
white froral touches,
nuance of lemongrass.
Palate
Dry,crisp,delicate,light-bodied,
fresh and fruity.
Soft in the mouth,lively acidity
with citrus aroma,
well-balanced.
Spicy note of white pepper lingers
on in mouth.
A pure ephemeral sensation.
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Grace Koshu
"Grace Koshu" in our typical white wine. In our winery ,while using sur-lie (after fermentation, we keep sediment without racking for 5 months to increase the richness),
We are careful to preserve the Koshu aromas. We take into consideration matching food and wine. The highly quality grapes mean that we can make dry wines. These days, the Koshu goes well with Japanese dishes and its original character is admired in foreign countries as well as Japan.
In "The World Atlas of Wine (the fifth edition)", the bible of winemakers written by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson ,a circulation of over 3,500,000, our "Grace Koshu"appears as representative of Japanese wine.
Our aim has been to raise the quality and our efforts have been rewarded with a trophy awarded by Hugh Johnson in the J.W.C.(Japan Wine Challenge)which was held for the first time in Japan.
Taking this opportunity, our wine appears in the British newspaper "The Financial Times". And lately, we have been appreciated by Robert Parker.
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