Region: Tohoku (Yamagata Prefecture / Nanyo City), Japan
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild blackberry, tart red cassis, shiso leaf, green bell pepper, crushed cedar, and wet slate, with vibrant natural acidity, fine rustic tannins, and a clean, bone-dry, savory-saline finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, yakitori (especially tare-glazed chicken skin or thigh), tonkatsu, roasted duck, or wild mushroom hot pot (nabemono)
The Producer
Grape Republic is a highly regarded natural winery based in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. Founded by Haruyuki Yano and legendary winemaker Kazuaki Takano, the estate was established to express Yamagata’s unique terroirs through low-intervention winemaking free of synthetic chemicals. Grape Republic farms both hybrid and classical Vitis vinifera varieties on nutrient-rich volcanic and clay soils. In the cellar, the team operates under strict zero-zero principles: spontaneous fermentations with wild native yeasts, heavy reliance on imported Spanish clay amphorae (ánforas), zero oak masking, no fining, no filtration, and absolutely no added sulfur.
The Wine
This bottling presents a strikingly fresh, buoyant, and high-acid expression of Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the cool hillsides of Yamagata. The hand-harvested fruit ferments spontaneously with native ambient yeasts and undergoes several weeks of skin maceration inside clay amphorae. The result is a vibrant, food-friendly light red that marries the classic cassis and leafy herbal notes of Cabernet Sauvignon with the bright, saline freshness characteristic of Japanese volcanic soils. Bottled raw and unfiltered, the 2022 vintage is best served with a slight chill.
Region: Tohoku (Yamagata Prefecture / Nanyo City), Japan
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild blackberry, tart red cassis, shiso leaf, green bell pepper, crushed cedar, and wet slate, with vibrant natural acidity, fine rustic tannins, and a clean, bone-dry, savory-saline finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, yakitori (especially tare-glazed chicken skin or thigh), tonkatsu, roasted duck, or wild mushroom hot pot (nabemono)
The Producer
Grape Republic is a highly regarded natural winery based in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. Founded by Haruyuki Yano and legendary winemaker Kazuaki Takano, the estate was established to express Yamagata’s unique terroirs through low-intervention winemaking free of synthetic chemicals. Grape Republic farms both hybrid and classical Vitis vinifera varieties on nutrient-rich volcanic and clay soils. In the cellar, the team operates under strict zero-zero principles: spontaneous fermentations with wild native yeasts, heavy reliance on imported Spanish clay amphorae (ánforas), zero oak masking, no fining, no filtration, and absolutely no added sulfur.
The Wine
This bottling presents a strikingly fresh, buoyant, and high-acid expression of Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the cool hillsides of Yamagata. The hand-harvested fruit ferments spontaneously with native ambient yeasts and undergoes several weeks of skin maceration inside clay amphorae. The result is a vibrant, food-friendly light red that marries the classic cassis and leafy herbal notes of Cabernet Sauvignon with the bright, saline freshness characteristic of Japanese volcanic soils. Bottled raw and unfiltered, the 2022 vintage is best served with a slight chill.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.