About Opening Act Koshu OF
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Koshu
- Price Range
- ¥2,860
- Alcohol
- 12.0%
Opening Act Koshu OF is the only skin-contact, orange-wine bottling in Cfa Backyard Winery's "Opening Act" Koshu line. Where the everyday Opening Act Koshu and the oak-chip-aged Opening Act Koshu AZ are both dry white wines, OF is fermented on the skins and released as a limited product only in vintages when the resulting wine turns out especially expressive. Made from 100% Koshu grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture and vinified at the winery's garage facility in Ashikaga, Tochigi, the current release is the 2023 vintage: straw-yellow in color, dry, bottled at 12.0% ABV under a Vinolock glass closure (openable by hand, no corkscrew needed). This 2023 vintage was awarded a bronze medal at the Japan Wine Competition 2024 (日本ワインコンクール2024).
The only skin-contact, orange-style bottling in the Opening Act Koshu line — where the standard and AZ bottlings are both dry whites, OF alone showcases Koshu's tannin structure and depth.
New to wine?
An approachable first step into orange wine — its gentle tannins and dry finish pair beautifully with richer Japanese dishes.
Food Pairings
Its apricot, black tea, and eucalyptus aromas alongside a rich attack and firm, savory tannins pair well with grilled yakitori, glazed or braised pork dishes, and other Japanese fare with some fat or char, as well as vinegar-forward preparations like nanbanzuke.
When to drink it
Great with yakitori and pork dishes; a striking gift for orange-wine enthusiasts given its limited, award-winning release.
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from 100% Koshu grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture (unlike the winery's own BURLESQUE Koshu, which uses estate-grown Tochigi fruit). Fermented on the skins to produce a dry orange wine, then bottled under Vinolock closure. 2023 vintage, 750ml, 12.0% ABV, straw-yellow color. Tasting notes: apricot, black tea, and eucalyptus aromas with a rich, weighty attack and firm, savory tannins. Released as a limited product only in vintages the winery judges especially expressive within the Opening Act Koshu line. Awarded a bronze medal at the Japan Wine Competition 2024 (日本ワインコンクール2024).
About the producer
Cfa Backyard WineryGarage winery reinventing Japan's native grape varieties足利市, 栃木県 · Founded 2012Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Opening Act Koshu OF taste like?
- It has aromas of apricot, black tea, and eucalyptus, with a rich, weighty attack and firm, savory tannins from skin contact — a dry orange wine, not a sweet one.
- How is OF different from the standard Opening Act Koshu and the AZ bottling?
- The standard Koshu and Koshu AZ are both dry white wines, while OF alone is fermented with skin contact into a dry orange wine. The current OF vintage is also 12.0% ABV, versus 11.5% for the other two.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Its tannin and richness suit grilled yakitori, pork dishes, and other Japanese fare with some fat or char, as well as vinegar-forward dishes like nanbanzuke.
- Has it won any awards?
- Yes, the 2023 vintage was awarded a bronze medal at the Japan Wine Competition 2024 (日本ワインコンクール2024).
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