Speaking of "Koshu," it is Japan's representative white grape variety.
Now, according to 90 PLUS WINE CLUB, "Napa Valley Koshu," harvested in one of the world's leading wine-producing regions, "Napa Valley," has been born.
Let us take a closer look at the details.
Koshu in Napa?
Napa Valley, located in California, USA, produces numerous "cult wines" such as Opus One, Screaming Eagle, and Harlan Estate.
It is an ultra-famous wine-producing region known to every wine fan.
When thinking of Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay strongly come to mind, so why is Koshu being grown there?
The team behind the "Napa Valley Koshu Project" is the one that grew Koshu in Napa this time.
During the major wildfires that occurred in October 2017, many grapevines grown in Napa Valley were scorched; however, they escaped total destruction, leaving the roots and parts of the trunks surviving.
While embarking on the restoration work, they obtained information that Koshu grape cuttings had long been stored at the University of California, Davis.
A plan was launched to graft them onto the scorched vines and cultivate the Koshu variety.
Amid questions and anxieties about cultivating Koshu, which is virtually unknown in the United States, they continued trial and error and succeeded in harvesting a modest one ton of Koshu in the autumn of 2021.
A remarkable 95 years after "Koshu" grape cuttings were sent from Japan's University of Miyazaki to UC Davis (University of California, Davis), "Napa Valley Koshu" was born.
About "Napa Valley Koshu Wine"
The owner of "Napa Valley Koshu Wine" is California's Kazumi Wines.
It is a white wine made from 100% Napa Valley-grown Koshu.
The vintage is 2021, and only a tiny run of 500 bottles is being released.
According to the tasting notes, its color, aroma, and flavor offer a distinct profile from Japanese Koshu wine, having been reborn like "a completely different variety."
In particular, it is said to pair best with Japanese cuisine, sushi, tempura, and kaiseki dishes.
It is being hailed as the birth of a new wine variety capable of ranking alongside the world's two major white wine varieties, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Koshu Arrives from the World!
While phrases like "taking Koshu to the world..." are heard often, cases where Koshu arrives from abroad are practically unheard of. (It is also produced in Germany.)
Perhaps the day when Koshu wines from around the world are reverse-imported is not so far away after all...
References
90 PLUS WINE CLUB https://www.the90pluswineclub.jp
Kazumi Wines https://www.kazumiwines.com