Enjoy Prosciutto & Japanese Wine Casually at "Wine Sakaba Di PUNTO"!

Many of you have probably seen the red sign of "Wine Tavern. Di PUNTO" in town.
With many locations situated in easily accessible spots near busy terminal stations, it has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy to pop in casually.

I've visited several times myself, and my go-to order here is always Lambrusco—a red sparkling wine—paired with a board covered end-to-end with prosciutto.

This combination is a classic culinary culture long loved in Italy, but since Emilia-Romagna, where Lambrusco is produced, is also home to delicious prosciutto, it makes for the ultimate pairing.

Lambrusco is often fruity, lower in alcohol, and gently sparkling, making it easy to drink. It's an approachable wine that wine beginners can enjoy, and it serves as a stylish alternative to the usual "first beer," making it wonderfully convenient and friendly.

This spring, Di PUNTO introduced a new menu featuring various styles of Lambrusco to enjoy. Furthermore, I discovered that they actually serve Japanese wine too, so I stopped by right away to check it out.

It's wonderful to try various types at an even better value with options like tasting flights.
The addictive "Onion Cream Dip with Parmesan Chips," rich with the deep savory flavor of hard cheese, creates a seamless pairing loop with red wine that makes ideal fuel for non-stop conversation.

I used to picture Di PUNTO as a place to casually enjoy a variety of wines from around the world, but it turns out you can currently enjoy six types of Japanese wine here as well.

These six Japanese wines come from Iwanohara Vineyard in Niigata.
It is a historic winery founded in 1890 by Zenbei Kawakami, known as the father of Japanese wine grapes.
Seeking grapes suited to Japan's climate and terroir, Mr. Kawakami took on the challenge of vine breeding, carrying out 10,311 crossbreedings and giving birth to 22 superior varieties, including Muscat Bailey A.
Muscat Bailey A was later registered on the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) variety list and has now become one of Japan's world-proud indigenous grape varieties.

At Di PUNTO, the lineup allows you to enjoy Japan's unique varieties, including Muscat Bailey A, Red Millennium, Rose Ciotat, Koshu, and Delaware.
It's fun to casually compare different varieties side by side!
It also works well to insert a light Japanese wine in between richer, fruit-forward Italian or Chilean wines to add contrast. There are so many ways to enjoy them.

Furthermore, I'm curious about the "certain initiative" mentioned by Mr. Suganuma.
Let's look forward to seeing how their Japanese wine offerings expand in the future.

"Going out for wine" might sound a bit formal or intimidating, but why not stop by casually without standing on ceremony, and unwind with a glass of Japanese wine after a long day?