About Under the Sun
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Undisclosed white grape variety (purchased fruit)
- Price Range
- ¥2,900-3,200
- 720ml
- Alcohol
- 10%
Under the Sun is a conceptually named cuvée from Aperture Farm and Winery, whose name plays on "aperture" (the camera term for the lens opening that controls light) — a nod to founder Ryo Tanabe's background in photography. Made from purchased white grapes of an undisclosed variety, the wine blends two lots: one whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented, the other destemmed and fermented on the skins (maceration), then bottled at the tail end of fermentation. Because the skin-contact portion dominates the blend, the wine leans toward an orange-wine character, with complex phenolic texture from the skins and occasional light natural effervescence from the late bottling. Fermented with wild yeast, unfiltered, unfined, and made without added sulfites.
A small-batch conceptual cuvée that captures Aperture Farm and Winery's photographer's eye — its skin-contact texture and gentle sweetness make it one of the most approachable orange wines from Japan's Chikuma River Valley.
New to wine?
A playful, easy-drinking introduction to orange wine — off-dry and textured, but not intimidating for first-timers.
Food Pairings
The orange-wine-leaning texture and off-dry edge pair well with spiced or herb-forward dishes: think grilled chicken with citrus, Vietnamese-style salads, or semi-hard washed-rind cheeses. Its skin-contact tannins also stand up to grilled white fish and vegetable tempura.
When to drink it
Casual weeknight dinners, cooking at home, or a relaxed catch-up with friends.
Terroir & Winemaking
Purchased white grapes (variety undisclosed) split into two fermentation lots — whole-cluster pressed juice aged in barrel, and destemmed must macerated on skins — then blended and bottled at the end of fermentation. Wild-yeast fermentation, unfiltered, unfined, no added sulfites; ABV approximately 10%, with occasional light natural spritz from residual fermentation activity in bottle.
About the producer
Aperture Farm and WineryWild-yeast micro-winery, near-organic farming in Tomi東御市, 長野県 · Founded 2022Visit the producer page →More wines from Aperture Farm and Winery
- AssemblageRosé · Chardonnay · Kyoho · Sauvignon Blanc · Pinot Noir · Pinot Gris · Aligoté · Sangiovese · Kai Noir · Shine Muscat · Roussanne · Petit Manseng · Merlot · Riesling · Viognier · Gewürztraminer · Chenin Blanc · Sémillon
- CamelliaRed · Not specified
- CedarRed · Merlot
- Depend on YouWhite · Chenin Blanc
- Do Not CompareRed · Merlot
- Ignore ThemRed · Merlot
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the name "Under the Sun" mean?
- It continues Aperture Farm and Winery's photography-inspired naming: "aperture" controls how light enters a camera, and "Under the Sun" evokes the sunlight the grapes ripened under before that light was, in effect, captured in the wine.
- What does Under the Sun taste like?
- It is off-dry with an orange-wine-leaning texture, showing complex phenolic notes from skin contact, gentle fruit, and occasionally a light natural effervescence from being bottled at the end of fermentation.
- What grape is Under the Sun made from?
- It is made from purchased white grapes; the winery has not publicly disclosed the specific variety.
- Is Under the Sun a natural wine?
- Yes — it is fermented with wild yeast, unfiltered, unfined, and bottled without added sulfites.
Want to know more about this wine?
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