Nagomi Vineyards
Tomi, Nagano
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling
Type: Orange
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Pale amber
Alcohol: 11.0%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 23.4 ppm
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 10-13°C
Production: 784 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.
Tasting notes
Quince, apricot and lemon lead the nose, joined by notes of mandarin peel, a hint of honey and black tea. There is also a subtle toasty character derived from fermentation. On the palate, it shows herbal and citrus-driven flavours with white peach, mandarin peel, osmanthus, black tea and grapefruit. A gentle touch of tannin adds structure, while the wine’s depth and concentration give it a satisfying weight. The finish is long and layered. Decanting or opening the bottle around 30 minutes before serving is advisable. The wine is best finished by the day after opening.
Food pairing
Butterbur bud tempura, tara-no-me (angelica tree shoots), blanched rapeseed blossoms, nukazuke (rice-bran pickles), mouth-watering chicken (yodare-dori), grilled aubergine, tempura of mountain vegetables, cumin-roasted carrots, dim sum, grilled chicken with yuzu kosho.
Winemaking
GRASSHOPPER 2024 is an orange wine made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc grown in the winery’s own vineyards in the Kanou district of Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture, with a small addition of Chardonnay and Riesling.
The 2024 season was marked by higher temperatures and increased rainfall, leading to an earlier harvest overall. The frequent rain resulted in slightly gentler ripeness in the grape clusters, making it a vintage that required a particularly delicate sense of balance.
All grapes were harvested by hand and carefully sorted in the vineyard before being brought to the winery. After maceration in stainless steel tanks, the fruit was pressed and fermentation began with wild yeasts. In the 2024 vintage, the maceration period was extended compared to 2023 in order to draw out more of Sauvignon Blanc’s skin-derived aromatic character.
After fermentation, the wine was aged in a tank for around ten months, then racked and bottled. It is bottled unfiltered and unfined, with no chaptalisation or acid adjustment. Sulphites were added only in minimal amounts at bottling.
Layered with gentle skin contact nuances and vibrant fruit expression, this is a distinctive and characterful bottle that captures the spirit of GRASSHOPPER.
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
