About ORIGINE KURAKAKE CHARDONNAY
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Price Range
- ¥3,300-4,400
- Alcohol
- 12-14%
ORIGINE KURAKAKE CHARDONNAY is Cave Hatano's mid-tier cuvée in the three-tier lineup (ENSEMBLE, ORIGINE, GRAND), sitting between the everyday ENSEMBLE wines and the flagship GRAND line. It is a single-vineyard Chardonnay from the Kurakake plot in Tomi City, Nagano, part of the Chikuma River Wine Valley. The Kurakake vines, planted in 2001 on a sunny, south-facing, well-drained slope overlooking the Chikuma River, are among the winery's oldest Chardonnay plantings. The ORIGINE line is built to showcase the terroir of a single named site and grape variety, offering aromas of citrus, orchard fruit, and (in barrel-aged releases) a touch of honeyed oak, framed by firm acidity and a savory, umami-tinged finish.
The clearest expression of Cave Hatano's Kurakake site below the GRAND flagship — old-vine concentration without the GRAND price tag.
New to wine?
A good entry point into serious single-vineyard Japanese Chardonnay — approachable citrus fruit with just enough structure to feel special.
Food Pairings
Pairs well with grilled or steamed white fish, scallop and shellfish dishes, and vegetable tempura; the acidity and umami also work with cream-based pasta and mildly seasoned Western dishes.
When to drink it
Good for a step-up dinner with friends or a seafood-focused meal where you want a wine with a clear sense of place.
Terroir & Winemaking
Single-vineyard Chardonnay from the Kurakake plot (planted 2001), estate-farmed on a south-facing, well-drained hillside in Tomi City, Nagano. Released across multiple vintages (recent releases include 2021-2024), with some vintages issued as a barrel-aged selection from older vines alongside a cleaner, unoaked-leaning spring release. Alcohol by volume roughly 12-14% depending on vintage.
About the producer
Cave HatanoOld-vine Chardonnay from a 800m Chikuma Valley hillside, made with minimal intervention.東御市, 長野県 · Founded 2017Visit the producer page →More wines from Cave Hatano
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes ORIGINE KURAKAKE CHARDONNAY different from Cave Hatano's other Chardonnay wines?
- It is a single-vineyard bottling from the Kurakake plot, planted in 2001, positioned as a mid-tier ORIGINE cuvée above the everyday ENSEMBLE wines and below the flagship GRAND line.
- What does it taste like?
- Expect citrus and orchard fruit aromas, firm acidity, and a savory, umami-tinged finish; barrel-aged releases add a touch of honeyed oak.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Grilled or steamed white fish, scallops and shellfish, and vegetable tempura all pair well, and the wine's acidity also suits cream-based pasta.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- The grapes come from Cave Hatano's own Kurakake vineyard in Tomi City, Nagano, on a sunny, south-facing, well-drained slope overlooking the Chikuma River.
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