Achievement
World Wine Report 2004
Japan Winery Award
Asahi Yoshu
Soleil Classic White
ソレイユ・クラシック 白／旭洋酒
"With bright citrus aromas like mandarin, a subtle sweetness and refreshing acidity, and a balance with the characteristic astringency of the Koshu Grapes, it is a table wine that pairs well with a wide range of dishes.It goes well with everyday meals!
It pairs well with softly sweet Japanese simmered dishes, as well as consommé and bouillon, and the compatibility of the simmered dishes does not ask whether it is Japanese or Western. Please enjoy it at around 10℃.
100% Koshu Grapes produced in Yamanashi. It is a staple product for the local community, simply brewed from only the grapes of neighboring farmers."
Tasting note
Category
Wine
Type
White Wine
Producer
Asahi Yoshu
Production area
Japan Yamanashi Prefecture
Variety
Koshu 100% (DRY)
Capacity
720 mL
ABV
12%
Recommended Pairings
For all kinds of Japanese food, potato dishes, foods made from flour like okonomiyaki, oil-based pasta, etc.
Tasting from winery
It has a radiant lemon-yellow appearance. The aroma has warmth in its freshness, with scents like Satsuma mandarins, mangosteen, and green apple.
In the mouth, a faint sweetness and gentle acidity stretch together, and the characteristic soft bitterness of the Koshu variety tightens the whole. This year features bright fruit aromas and a pleasantly sharp taste balance.
It pairs well with all kinds of Japanese food, potato dishes, flour-based foods like okonomiyaki, and oil-based pastas.
About the producer
Photo form Winerly's HP
Wherever you go, there is a gentle flavor
In 2001, a small, unassuming cooperative winery nestled within a residential area in Yamanashi City, complete with licenses and equipment, was up for sale. It was then taken over by the Suzuki couple, who started the new Asahi Western Liquor the following year.
The first year of brewing was done entirely with purchased grapes, but the initial fermentation of Koshu grapes in barrels won a popularity vote among Yamanashi Prefecture wine enthusiasts held in 2003. In 2004, it was featured in the "World Wine Report 2004" published in the UK, which highlighted that 'an 80-year-old cooperative winemaking facility was revived by a young couple's winemaking team.'
Also, in the special edition of Wine Kingdom called "Japanese Wine Archipelago", the 2003 Soleil Koshu was selected as one of the 36 specially chosen domestic wines.
Since then, the winery has consistently made good wine from healthy grapes, earning positive evaluations from customers, among others.
Starting in 2018, at the 'Japan Winery Award', they gained an additional star in 2020, achieving a four-star rating, which is the second-highest level in the five-star system.
About the Production Area
Japan Yamanashi Prefecture
Photo form Winerly's HP
The Wine Kingdom of Japan
Yamanashi, the birthplace of Japanese wine. Wine brewing began approximately 140 years ago in Kofu. In the Kofu Basin, particularly on the east side where places like Katsunuma and former Shiroyama have significant diurnal temperature variations, grape cultivation advanced, and it was also in Yamanashi that major beverage manufacturers were quick to establish wineries.
Of course, Yamanashi Prefecture is number one in both wine production and the number of wineries in Japan. In addition to producing the native Japanese grape varieties Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, which have been garnering attention recently, high-quality wines are also being produced that pursue the terroir and individuality of the winery, from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and others.
