Every year, the third Sunday of June is Father's Day.
In 2023, Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 18, but some of you may still be wondering what to give.
If your father enjoys alcohol, "Japanese wine" is highly recommended as a Father's Day gift.
This year's Father's Day is truly the time for Japanese wine.
4 Reasons Why You Should Give Japanese Wine on Father's Day
Below are four reasons why you should give Japanese wine for Father's Day.
- Many fathers want alcohol
- Appreciated even if he is not knowledgeable about wine
- Easy to pair with Japanese food
- Becomes a conversation starter for deciding travel destinations
We will explain each of these points and also introduce recommended Japanese wine.
1. Many fathers want alcohol
Many people seem to wonder what to give for Father's Day every year, but knowing what dads actually want solves the problem.
"Kokyu Navi," a media outlet that introduces carefully selected luxury items from around the world, conducted an internet survey on "Gifts that made people happy to receive on Father's Day."
According to the survey of 139 men aged 40 and older who have adult children, "alcohol" ranked first.
Reference
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000021.000099303.html
In addition, other companies have conducted their own surveys regarding Father's Day, and alcohol consistently ranked near the top.
Furthermore, in a survey of 1,025 people on "What you want to send for Father's Day" conducted by "Chichinohi.jp" (https://chichinohi.jp/), an information media site specializing in Father's Day,
"Alcohol and Beer" ranked just behind "Food and Gourmet."
Fathers who want alcohol for Father's Day, and families who want to send alcohol.
The likelihood that supply and demand match seems high.
Japanese wine is recommended for those situations where dad wants alcohol and the family wants to give alcohol.
Tradition, quality, and a profound presence. This is a bottle that any alcohol lover will groan with satisfaction and call delicious!
2. Appreciated even if he is not knowledgeable about wine
Just because someone is an "alcohol lover" doesn't mean all fathers are very knowledgeable about alcohol.
There must be many fathers who enjoy alcohol casually—drinking socially, enjoying an evening drink as a habit, or trying things that are said to be delicious.
Among alcoholic beverages, wine is often perceived as complicated, so some people may find it difficult to consider giving wine as a gift.
That is why Japanese wine is recommended.
Even without deep knowledge of alcohol, just seeing regional names like Yamanashi, Nagano, Hokkaido, or Osaka provides a sense of reassurance that it is made in Japan.
Furthermore, because the quality of Japanese wine has improved dramatically in recent years, it should pleasantly overturn any negative preconceptions held by fathers who view it merely as "souvenir wine."
Japanese wine does not have many overly idiosyncratic or overpowering bottles, making it easily accessible even for fathers who normally prefer sake, whisky, or beer.
It is appreciated even by fathers who are not familiar with alcohol—that is the beauty of Japanese wine.
3. Easy to pair with Japanese food
Japanese wine is delicious on its own, but its ability to pair easily with Japanese cuisine is another great appeal.
While having a Father's Day party with French, Italian, or Chinese food is an option, when gathering at home with family and relatives, the dining table often centers around sushi, sashimi, and Japanese cuisine. (Much like a New Year's setting)
Also, some people may want to delight their fathers by gifting domestic delicacies as a modest luxury.
For this reason, Father's Day drinks often default to sake, shochu, or beer, but with Japanese wine, there is no need to worry about pairing with Japanese food.
Even when aromatic, Japanese wine tends to be more restrained than foreign wines, and its delicate mouthfeel and flavor gently complement the tastes of the dishes.
It does not clash even with distinctly "Japanese" flavors—from dishes simmered in soy sauce, mirin, and sake, to sashimi and sushi made with fresh seafood, and condiments such as sansho, green onion, and wasabi, as well as bonito flakes, ginger, and myoga.
While pairings vary across red, white, rosé, grape varieties, and aging periods, the overall ease of pairing with Japanese cuisine is a distinctive charm of Japanese wine.
Personally, sparkling wines made from Delaware and other varieties are recommended because they pair effortlessly with any Japanese dish.
4. Becomes a conversation starter for deciding travel destinations
The greatest appeal of Japanese wine is that it is "wine made in Japan."
People often think of wine as a drink from far-off foreign countries, but because it is made in the region where you live or in neighboring prefectures, it feels familiar and approachable.
For example, Oita Prefecture is home to famous wineries such as "Ajimu Wine," and gifting such wine for Father's Day might prompt a conversation like, "Maybe Oita would be a great destination for our trip this summer."
Of course, choosing a wine from a prefecture tied to personal memories is also a wonderful way to spark nostalgic stories.
If you were to give a wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa—a globally renowned wine region—few families would likely say, "Delicious! Shall we go to Stellenbosch as a family next month!?" (Unless your family has ties to South Africa).
Incidentally, presenting a selection of several wines from different prefectures for a tasting comparison can also provide great conversation material.
In the sense that it brings lively topics of conversation, Japanese wine is once again highly recommended for Father's Day.
Summary
If your father enjoys alcohol, he may already have heard about the recent Japanese wine boom.
He might even react enthusiastically, saying, "Oh, is this that talked-about Japanese wine!?"
Father's Day 2023 is just around the corner.
If you haven't decided on a gift yet, please consider choosing Japanese wine.