Grace Koshu Toriibira Vineyard Private Reserve 2023

Grace Winery (Chuo Budoshu) was founded in 1923 by Chotaro Misawa in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture — the birthplace of Japan's wine industry. The region sits in the mountain-ringed Kofu Basin, encircled by Mount Fuji, the Southern Alps and the Chichibu range, with a continental climate of distinct seasons and well-drained soils that have made it ideal for viticulture since ancient times. Katsunuma's hilly Toriibira and Hishiyama districts, in particular, are known for producing grapes of exceptional concentration and flavour.

The winery has a history of innovation, becoming one of the first in Japan to introduce Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) in 1990 to improve grape quality. Now in its fifth generation, Grace remains family-run, led by winemaker Ayana Misawa, Chotaro's great-great-granddaughter — and is widely regarded as one of Yamanashi's most respected producers of Koshu.

The Toriibira district holds particular significance for fourth-generation owner Shigekazu Misawa. Sitting at 450m altitude, its well-drained gravelly soil has long been prized locally for producing high-quality fruit. Grapes from this site undergo careful selection, with the best lots fermented in old French oak and further matured in stainless steel — producing wines of elegant acidity, real complexity, and a long finish.

Apple, white nectarine, jasmine, ginger, white pepper and cinnamon. It’s a smooth wine, light and fine, a fine dustiness to texture, a little spice and floral mouth-perfume, a cool feel to acidity, green apple and lemon barley, with a finish of excellent length, something of a gin martini with a green olive flavour to close (minus the kick!). Super. GW