TAKAHIRO WINE by Takahiro Suzuki
Shimotsuma, Ibaraki 
(Vinified at Fattoria AL FIORE in Kawasaki, Miyagi)

Grapes: Delaware (from Yamagata)
Type: Orange
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Medium amber
Alcohol: 10%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: No
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 7-13°C
Production: 607 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Funky. Pronounced aromas of flint, Japanese mandarin, lily and pineapple. Zesty, grapefruit, crisp and present acidity. Enjoy the changes in flavour over the first few days after corking. Chill at first, drink slowly and enjoy the increasing fruitiness as the temperature rises.

Food pairing
Simmered chicken and shiitake mushrooms, Agedashi Tofu (deep-fried battered tofu soaked in dashi broth), simmered aubergine and okra in dashi broth, oden and grilled vegetables. Goes well with Japanese home cooking.

Winemaking
Made from Delaware grapes from Mr Saito, a grape farmer in Takahata, Yamagata, and vinified on commission at Fattoria AL FIORE, a winery in Kawasaki, Miyagi. Grapes were harvested on 26 August 2023; the year 2023 saw little rainfall throughout the year and sunny weather during harvest time. There were no typhoons or other damage and the grape harvest was higher than in previous years. However, the hot weather continued, and the grapes seemed to lose acidity quickly after the sugar content had fully risen. Delaware grapes were destemmed, crushed and pressed after 5 days of skin contact, and bottled after 2 months of ageing in old oak barrels.

Winemaker Mr. Takahiro Suzuki worked as a sommelier in a restaurant in Tokyo before deciding to go into winemaking at the age of 30 and moving to Australia. He spent a year training at Smallfry Wines in the Barossa Valley. Based on the experience he gained there, he has been working at Fattoria AL FIORE in Miyagi since April 2023, training in viticulture, winemaking and general business operations, with the aim of establishing a winery in his home prefecture of Ibaraki. Through winemaking in his hometown, he aims to revitalise the existing community rooted in the local area, including the circulation of local foodstuffs and tourism from outside the prefecture. He works every day in the hope that he can make a contribution to his hometown Ibaraki.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 73 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 2.0 g
 - Sugar: 2.0 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Salt: 0g