Japan — wine

Yamanashi

Japan's most important wine-producing prefecture and home to the Koshu grape — Japan's only internationally recognised indigenous wine variety. Yamanashi sits at the foot of Mount Fuji, with alluvial soils and a humid continental climate challenging for viticulture but rewarded by meticulous Japanese farming precision. Koshu produces delicate, dry whites of characteristic citrus, white peach, and subtle mineral character, ideal for Japanese cuisine.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Favourable Yamanashi growing season; outstanding Koshu freshness and mineral precision
2022 Good vintage; typical Koshu citrus-mineral profile at full expression
2021 La Nina rainfall challenged the harvest but Japanese meticulous canopy management preserved fruit quality
2020 Long, warm season; Koshu with unusual concentration and depth
2019 Benchmark Yamanashi vintage; most complex Koshu in recent years