Sakai Winery
Nanyo, Yamagata

Grapes: Delaware
Type: White
Style: Dry, medium-bodied
Colour: Deep Yellow
Alcohol: 13%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: No 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 7-10°C
Production: 1,200 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Delicate aromas of white flowers mingle with the freshness of lemon, lime and grapefruit, alongside gentle notes of white peach, pear and quince. A faint spritz adds lift, while ripe fruit flavours and bright acidity come together in perfect balance. The palate carries a soft umami-like depth. Opens with a light reductive note, so for those sensitive to it, opening the bottle a little in advance or decanting is recommended. The wine stays enjoyable for two to three days after opening, developing a touch more sweetness by the third day, making it a lovely match for desserts.
 
Food pairing
Chilled tofu topped with smoked mackerel, tomato and shiso, chicken grilled with yuzu kosho, jamón serrano, gambas al ajillo, stir-fried garlic sprouts with oyster sauce, seafood salad with citrus dressing, white fish carpaccio, steamed chicken with plum sauce, lemon sorbet

Winemaking
Founded in 1892, Sakai Winery is one of Japan’s long-established producers. Staying true to traditional methods, the winery crafts its wines slowly and carefully using non-filtered techniques that rely on the natural power of fermentation.

Cohime-sans 2024 is made from Delaware grapes grown in the winery’s own Kanezawa vineyard in Akayu, Nanyo City. While 2024 was again a hot year, though not as extreme as 2023, the warm, low-snow winter allowed queen hornets to overwinter more easily, leading to severe damage from giant hornets in some later-ripening varieties. The Delaware, however, ripened as usual, with harvest beginning after mid-August and continuing into mid-September, producing grapes of excellent quality.

The Delaware grapes, harvested with seeds intact, were de-stemmed, crushed, and transferred to stainless steel tanks, where fermentation began with wild yeasts. After about three weeks, the wine was racked and then left to rest in stainless steel for around six months before bottling. Unfiltered and made with no added sulphites.

‘Cohime’ is the old local name for Delaware. ‘sans’ is a combination of the French term ‘Sans Soufre’, meaning sulphite-free, and the common Japanese honorific ‘-san’ (a postfix to a person's name, etc., to show light respect).

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