About this wine
KWtN Nokofuku Roze Taiyaman is a playful and expressive rosé crafted by Bruce and Ryoko Gutlove at 10R Winery in Hokkaido. Part of the 'Taiyaman' series — wines made together as a couple's passion project — this is described as a 'surprise' wine, one they had never made before and likely never will again. Pinot Noir dominant, blended with a touch of Zweigelt vinified as blanc de noirs. It delivers a delicate hue, a fruity strawberry aroma with notes of balsamic vinegar, black tea, and forest undergrowth, finishing with an energetic, dry crispness. A testament to the winemakers' dedication to minimal intervention and their ability to create wines that are both serious in quality and lighthearted in character.
An approachable and refreshing rosé that perfectly captures the charm of Japanese craft wine. Its fruity aromas and crisp finish make it easy to enjoy on any occasion.
Sommelier's Note
"This is a must-try rosé for anyone seeking a wine that balances serious craftsmanship with pure, unadulterated drinking pleasure. The Pinot Noir backbone gives it structure, while the Zweigelt adds a subtle spice. Serve well-chilled at 8–10°C."
Food Pairings
Pairs excellently with fresh seafood, light salads, grilled chicken, and Japanese dishes such as sashimi, vegetable tempura, and dashi-based simmered dishes. The wine's acidity and fruit character complement the umami in Japanese cuisine.
When to drink it
Perfect for outdoor picnics, casual brunches, or as an aperitif on a sunny afternoon. A great conversation-starter at dinner parties thanks to its unique backstory.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinot Noir, Zweigelt
- Style
- Rosé
- Price Range
- ¥4,000–6,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Produced at 10R Winery in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido using Hokkaido-grown Pinot Noir and Zweigelt grapes. The Zweigelt is vinified as blanc de noirs to maintain the wine's delicate rosé color. Winemaking focuses on minimal intervention with natural yeasts and careful temperature control to preserve delicate fruit aromatics and vibrant acidity. NV/Multi-Vintage blend.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does it taste like?
- It tastes like fresh strawberries and red currants with hints of balsamic vinegar, black tea, and forest undergrowth, finishing with a crisp, mineral-driven dryness.
- What food should I pair it with?
- It pairs best with light Japanese cuisine such as sashimi, tempura, or dashi-based dishes, as well as grilled chicken, fresh salads, and light seafood.
- Is there a specific vintage?
- This is a Non-Vintage (NV/Multi-Vintage) wine, blending grapes from multiple harvests to achieve a consistent style.
- When is the best time to drink it?
- Best enjoyed young and fresh. Drink within 2–3 years of release to appreciate its vibrant fruit character and crisp acidity.
- What makes the Taiyaman series special?
- The 'Taiyaman' series is a personal passion project of Bruce and Ryoko Gutlove — wines made for the sheer joy of experimentation, outside the constraints of their main label. Each cuvée in the series is often a one-time release.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
上幌ワイン 森
Kamihoro Wine Mori
WhiteSauvignon Blanc · Auxerrois · Aligoté · Pinot Gris · Savagnin · Siegerrebe
Kamihoro Wine "Mori" is a complex field blend white wine from 10R Winery's estate vineyard in Kamihoro, Kurisawa-cho, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido. The east-facing slope plot is sheltered on its north side by a natural forest—the source of the wine's name "Mori" (forest)—which acts as a windbreak and maintains higher temperatures in the vineyard. Sauvignon Blanc forms the backbone of the blend, co-fermented with up to seven additional white varieties including Auxerrois, Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Savagnin, and Siegerrebe. Winemaker Bruce Gutlove, a California State University-trained enologist who led Coco Farm Winery before founding 10R in 2012, harvests each variety at its ideal moment before fermenting them together. With an average CellarTracker score of 94.2, "Mori" is regarded as one of the finest white wines being produced in Japan today.
10Rワイナリー ピノ・ノワール
10R Winery Pinot Noir
RedPinot Noir
10R Winery's expression of Pinot Noir from the cool volcanic soils of Hokkaido, showing elegant red fruit and earthy minerality with Burgundian aspirations.
KWtN 藤澤農園 余市ケルナー 待てば甘露
KWtN Fujisawa Farm Yoichi Kerner Mateba Kanro
WhiteSweetKerner
A multi-vintage late-harvest Kerner from Fujisawa Farm in Yoichi, made by 10R Winery under the KWtN ('Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi') label. Blending the 2016 and 2017 late-harvest harvests, this wine is concentrated, smooth, and gently sweet — the name 'Mateba Kanro' (待てば甘露) meaning 'wait and sweetness will come.' Expect ripe apricot, candied citrus peel, honey, and malt on a silky palate with Kerner's characteristic refreshing acidity cutting through the richness.
KWtN 木村農園 余市 ピノ・ノワール
KWtN Kimura Farm Yoichi Pinot Noir
RedPinot Noir
KWtN Kimura Farm Yoichi Pinot Noir is made by Bruce Gutlove at 10R Winery in Iwamizawa from 100% Pinot Noir grown at Kimura Farm in Nobori District, Yoichi, Hokkaido. Kimura Farm planted Pinot Noir in 1985 — among the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Japan at over 40 years — on sandy-clay loam soils that differ from the volcanic black soils typical of Yoichi, imparting a distinctive saline minerality. The wine is made with minimal intervention: ~95% destemmed with ~5% whole cluster, wild-yeast fermentation, aged 14–16 months in used French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. The result is a Burgundian-inspired red with silky tannins, razor-sharp acidity, and an umami-driven minerality that has attracted international attention — three 10R wines appeared on Noma's Kyoto pop-up wine list.
KWtN 高橋農園 砂川ソーヴィニヨン・ブラン
KWtN Takahashi Farm Sunagawa Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteSauvignon Blanc
Produced at 10R Winery under the KWtN ('Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi') series, this Sauvignon Blanc draws 100% from Takahashi Farm in Higashitoyonuma, Sunagawa City, Hokkaido. Each vintage reveals a different facet of Hokkaido's cool continental climate: the 2022 leads with assertive passion fruit and a crisp, tangy finish; the 2021 opens with orange, ripe pear, and tropical pineapple; while the 2020 showcases fragrant grapefruit, lemongrass, and lavender over a silky, clean acid backbone. Minimal-intervention vinification at 10R preserves the grape's natural purity and the farm's distinctive terroir.
KWtN タイヤマンシリーズ ノコフクシロ MV
KWtN Nokofuku Shiro Taiyaman Series MV
WhitePinot Gris · Chardonnay
KWtN Nokofuku Shiro is a white wine from the "Taiyaman Series" of KWtN (Kamihoro Wine to Nakamatachi), a label by Bruce and Ryoko Gutlove of 10R Winery in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido. Made from Pinot Gris and Chardonnay sourced primarily from contract growers in Yoichi, it blends lots not used in single-varietal wines to create an easy-drinking, pleasurable wine. The wine delivers rich aromas of honey, flowers, and pear, with a delicate touch of residual sugar sweetness on the finish complemented by lively volatile acidity. Multi-vintage (MV) blending is a hallmark of the Taiyaman Series philosophy.