COCO FARM & WINERY
Ashikaga, Tochigi
Grapes: Koshu 83% (Yamanashi), Kerner 16% (Hokkaido), Sauvignon Blanc 1% (Hokkaido)
Type: White
Style: Off-dry, light-bodied
Colour: Pale gold
Alcohol: 11%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 35 ppm
Filtered: Yes
Serving temperature: 5-8°C
Production: 13,637 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.
Tasting notes
The aroma features notes of fruits like apples and pears, along with hints reminiscent of yogurt and a touch of seaweed. On the palate, the wine is soft and well-balanced, combining sweetness, acidity, and a gentle bitterness similar to citrus peel. Toward the finish, subtle salinity and umami add an extra layer of complexity. With a residual sugar content of 13.1g/L, it’s a wine that offers a slight sweetness. The wine can be enjoyed for about a week after opening.
Food pairing
Sashimi of white fish (such as sea bream and flounder), tempura with salt, yudofu (hot tofu) or hiyayakko (cold tofu), chicken grilled with salt koji, vinegared octopus and cucumber, sushi (such as engawa, squid, and scallops), goat cheese, fruit jelly, Japanese sweets with white bean paste, rare cheesecake, and sorbet.
Winemaking
Ashicoco is a white wine made mainly from Koshu, a grape variety indigenous to Japan, and has been produced annually since 1984, when COCO FARM & WINERY began making wine. For the 2023 vintage, specially selected Koshu grapes were blended with varieties such as Kerner and Sauvignon Blanc. After de-stemming, the grapes were gently pressed and the juice was left to settle overnight at low temperature. The next day, the clarified juice was transferred to a stainless steel tank after pre-fermentation racking. To preserve the aroma, the juice was kept below 18°C and fermented with wild yeast over about a month. Fermentation was stopped by cooling the tank and racking the wine off the heavy lees at the ideal point where sweetness and acidity were perfectly balanced. While the 2022 vintage was aged in amphorae and barrels, the 2023 vintage was aged for around 4 months in stainless steel tanks. It was then racked, blended, and filtered.
The wine's fresh fruity aroma and gentle, thick mouthfeel will delight first-time wine drinkers and wine experts alike. A Japanese white wine that goes well with all Japanese dishes made with Japanese fermented seasonings (soy sauce, miso, mirin, etc.) and is also easy to match with Western and Chinese dishes. 2012, 2013 and 2015 vintages of this wine have been used in JAL international first class, lounges and business class flights. Until around 2026, you can enjoy the sweetness and umami of the fruit. After 2026, as the wine matures, it is expected to develop greater harmony, with notes of dried fruits and toasty nuances emerging.
Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 88 kcal
Fat: 0 g
- Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 5.0 g
- Sugar: 5.0 g
Protein: 0.2 g
Salt: 0g
