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.

Grape Republic works with a mix of vinifera and labrusca varieties, exploring different fermentation techniques and vessels to bring out the individual character of Yamagata's grapes. From stainless steel to Spanish terracotta amphorae, the approach is deliberately experimental, producing wines with remarkable freshness, energy and a distinctive sense of place.

Bianco 2023

Made from a blend of Delaware, Niagara, Steuben and Seibel grapes, the Bianco 2023 brings together several different vinification methods, including direct pressing and 48 hours of skin contact. The individual components were blended in the spring of 2024 before spending a further three months ageing in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

Fresh mandarin orange and ripe pear lead the aromatics, with bright citrus fruit, gentle texture and a lovely savoury character on the palate. The finish is fresh and expressive, with a rich umami depth that gives the wine an unmistakably Japanese character.