Tabayama Village in Yamanashi Prefecture is working with Sainte Neige Wine Co., Ltd. on the development of Mizunara oak cask whisky.
On Monday, February 19 from 10:00 a.m., a "barrel opening" will be held in the presence of officials from the village and the company to check the maturation status of the whisky.
Here are the details.
About Tabayama Village's Mizunara Oak Casks
Mizunara is also known as "Japanese oak."
Although it was once utilized as timber in Tabayama Village, it is said that many trees were left neglected for years without proper maintenance due to factors such as the aging of forestry workers.
Under such circumstances, an initiative proposed by village office staff to craft wine barrels from village-grown timber was turned into a project over the course of more than two years from its conceptualization.
Mizunara trees harvested from the village's mountains were sawed and processed by contractors in Toyama and Gifu prefectures, and barrel assembly was commissioned to a cooper in Kyoto Prefecture. In 2021, 17 wooden casks were completed. As the first phase of developing an "All-Yamanashi Wine" crafted in Yamanashi-origin barrels, "Tabayama Wine Chardonnay" was released in 2022 together with Okunota Winery Co., Ltd. (Ushiuoku, Enzan, Koshu City).
Toward the Development of a New Whisky
Following the release of "Tabayama Wine Chardonnay" mentioned above, Sainte Neige Wine Co., Ltd. reached out to collaborate, launching the development of wine and whisky.
In December 2023, white wine aged in Mizunara oak casks was completed.
Meanwhile, out of 9 casks, whisky is currently maturing, with Scotch unblended malt whisky aged in 2 casks and grain malt (blended) whisky aged in 7 casks.
The maturation status will be assessed, and bottling is scheduled for around April this year.
The "barrel opening" is scheduled for Monday, February 19, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, and will be open to the press.
Please refer to the following for details.
Reference
Date and Time: Monday, February 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Location: Sainte Neige Wine (107-1 Kamikanoigawa, Yamanashi City)
Attendees: Tabayama Village: Mayor Yoshito Kinoshita, Vice Mayor Yasushi Ashizawa, and others
Sainte Neige Wine: President Yoshiharu Tanaka, Plant Manager Seido Natori, Production Manager Kenichi Nishimaki, and others
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