COCO FARM & WINERY
Ashikaga, Tochigi

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 75%, Gewürztraminer 23%, Pinot Gris 2% (All from Hokkaido)
Type: White
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Medium gold
Alcohol: 12.5%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 30 ppm 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 7-10°C
Production: 2,200 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Aroma of grapefruit, yellow peach, mangosteen, eucalyptus, jasmine, lemongrass and yoghurt. Soft palate with gunflint and mineral nuances. Fresh fruitiness, crisp acidity.  Pleasant bitterness in aftertaste.

Food pairing
Chicken breast inner fillet and coriander salad, Caprese of peach and dry-cured ham, Moules Marinières, seafood fritter, grilled Pacific saury, Japanese Mille-Feuille hot pot, meatballs in sweet and sour sauce, white fish carpaccio with dill, Sushi, Tempura, roquette and cottage cheese salad, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto

Winemaking
Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris from Yoichi, Hokkaido, were vinified in two ways: first, only free-run must was placed in stainless steel tanks and fermented with wild yeasts for approximately three weeks, keeping the liquid temperature below 23°C. Second, de-stemmed grapes were placed in tanks and gently pressed after overnight skin contact. The temperature of the must was kept below 19°C to preserve the aromas of the grapes and the wine was fermented with wild yeasts for about one month. Some varieties were mixed fermented. After fermentation, the wine was matured in stainless steel tanks for approximately 5-6 months. The wine was then racked, blended and bottled unfiltered and unfined. From 2023 to 2025, the wine will continue to be fresh and fruity, and from 2026, the flavour will be smooth by ageing, giving it an authentic feel.

“COCOROMI series” (“Kokoromi” = experiment in Japanese) is a name for their challenge. Although Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris are all suited to Hokkaido's cool climate, it took courage to start making new wine with these varieties, which are still rarely grown in Yoichi. However, thanks to veteran grower Mr Fujisawa and his team, the wine was successfully made. The winery sees great potential in these grapes and their wines. The name of the wine was inspired by the words "Free time watching the clouds" from Sakutaro Hagiwara's prose "Song of Emptiness". Enjoy a glass of the wine made from this new challenge and spend some time relaxing as if you are watching the clouds flow by.