The Kumamoto Wine Farm and Kikuka Winery is one of Japan's finest producers of Chardonnay wine. Kumamoto Wine Farm works in partnership with around 30 winegrowers (9 hectares in total) to produce wine, specifically 90% Chardonnay.
Grapes are 100% produced in the town of Kikuka. Vineyards are located in a basin area that provides an ideal environment for growing grapes: well ventilated, with over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year and good drainage thanks to the soil surface, which contains a lot of mountain sand.
Plots are located at altitudes of 100 to 200 meters. Although terrain is mainly flat, there are also terraced areas created by rivers, and the region has some of the lowest water temperatures in Kumamoto Prefecture, which affects temperature differences and creates the terroir. 2019 was a difficult year with a lot of rain during the harvest, but from 2020 onwards, weather has been favorable, particularly in 2022, when there was little rain in mid-August during the harvest and very good grapes were harvested.
For this new vintage, winery used 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in Kikuka-cho, in the town of Yamaga, located 30 km north of Kumamoto City. Harvest period extends from late August to early September, and grapes are harvested according to their ripeness. After fermentation at 15-20°C, grapes are selected by sensory testing in each tank and transferred to French oak barrels.
Grapes are concentrated thanks to the favorable sunshine and cold climate, resulting in a Chardonnay with rich fruitiness, well balanced by acidity, and a delicate barrel aroma. This is a dry white wine with a creamy taste. It is recommended with pork, pasta with cream sauce, etc. Recommended serving temperature is 14-16 degrees Celsius, not too cold, and it should be enjoyed in a large glass.
