Japan

**Japan** is a small, quality-focused wine producer whose reputation has grown quickly, celebrated for delicate, precise wines suited to the country's cuisine. Winemaking dates to the late 19th century, but the modern serious industry is a more recent story of dedication in a challenging, humid climate. **Signature wines** — The native pink-skinned grape Koshu makes light, subtle, low-alcohol white wines with gentle citrus and a clean finish; Muscat Bailey A, a hybrid, produces soft, fragrant reds. International varieties are also grown. **Key regions** — Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, is the historic center and Koshu's home; Nagano, Hokkaido and Yamagata are important cooler-climate areas gaining recognition. **Good to know** — The term "Japan Wine" is legally protected to mean wine made from domestically grown grapes, distinguishing it from the many blends historically bottled in Japan using imported bulk wine or concentrate. Koshu itself is a grape of ancient Eurasian origin adapted over centuries to Japanese conditions.

Wines

• Arancione — Grape Republic
• Daimon — Daimon
• Dela Fresca Frizzante — Grape Republic
• Yoichi-Nobori Passetoutgrain — Domaine Takahiko Soga