Nan'yō, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Grape Republic was founded by restaurateur and sommelier Kazuomi Fujimaki in 2015, who left Tokyo behind and moved to the village of Shinden in Yamagata. With no previous experience in winemaking, he set three simple rules for himself: cultivation must be organic, wines must be made without sulphur or additives, and they should preferably have a touch of amphora storage. The goal was to make live, clear Japanese wines in free style, using the grapes grown in Yamagata's orchards throughout the 20th century.

As with most Japanese wines, the wines we have on offer are made from a mix of vinifera and labrusca grapes, fermented in Spanish terracotta jars immersed in the winery's floor and then stored in steel tanks. The combination of different grapes and fermentations contributes energy and balance, while the interplay of clay and steel gives the wines a refreshing drinkability and pure reverberation.

Rosso 2023

Five grape varieties from Yamagata Prefecture, fully destemmed and skin-fermented for 6 to 15 days across stainless steel tanks and amphorae. The final blend is aged 50% in amphora, 40% in stainless steel and 10% in 500L old barrels, a combination that builds both depth and freshness. Made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Steuben, the wine opens with fresh berry fruit, spice, fern-like herbs and fragrant lift. A natural red of real character and precision.