Château Mercian Mariko Winery Sauvignon Blanc
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子ワイナリー ソーヴィニヨン・ブラン
Chateau Mercian
Sauvignon Blanc
About this wine
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown at the estate-owned Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. The vineyard's low rainfall, gravelly clay soil, and cool climate yield grapes with vivid aromatics — grapefruit, lemon, lime, passion fruit, and fresh herbs — supported by crisp acidity and a refined mineral character that reflects Château Mercian's meticulous terroir-driven viticulture.
A bright, aromatic introduction to Japanese Sauvignon Blanc — refreshing citrus and passion fruit notes make it easy to enjoy even for wine beginners.
Sommelier's Note
"A precise, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc that rivals cool-climate examples from around the world — its vivid citrus and passion fruit expression is a benchmark for Japanese white wine."
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with fresh seafood, goat cheese, and asparagus. Its bright acidity also complements Japanese dishes such as sashimi with a squeeze of sudachi citrus, salt-grilled white fish, and tempura.
When to drink it
Perfect for sunny afternoon brunches, casual seafood dinners, or as an easy-drinking gift for wine lovers.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ¥4,000-5,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Grapes are grown using trellis training at the estate-owned Mariko Vineyard, in a region with unusually low rainfall for Japan. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at 18-20°C for about two weeks, followed by roughly four months of aging in stainless steel tanks only (no oak), preserving the wine's fresh aromatic intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Mariko Sauvignon Blanc taste like?
- Vivid aromas of grapefruit, lemon, lime, and passion fruit with fresh herbal notes, backed by crisp acidity and a mineral-driven, clean finish.
- What food pairs best with it?
- Fresh seafood, goat cheese, and asparagus are classic matches; it also pairs wonderfully with sashimi seasoned with sudachi citrus and salt-grilled white fish.
- Is this wine aged in oak?
- No — it is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks to preserve its bright, fresh aromatic character.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown at the estate-owned Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, a region with unusually low rainfall for Japan.
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シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香
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WhiteKoshu
Château Mercian Koshu Kiiroka is a landmark wine that redefined the potential of Japan's indigenous Koshu grape. Developed in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux, this wine utilizes specific yeast strains to highlight the 'Kiiroka' (yellow aroma) profile—a distinct citrusy, grapefruit-like bouquet reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. Characterized by crisp acidity, elegant structure, and a refreshing clean finish that showcases the purity of the fruit, this wine has played a pivotal role in elevating the international reputation of Japanese viticulture, proving that Koshu can produce world-class, aromatic dry white wines.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子ワイナリー シャルドネ
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Chardonnay is a premium white wine crafted from grapes grown in the Mariko Vineyard in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. Situated at high elevation with excellent drainage and significant diurnal temperature variation, this terroir yields Chardonnay of remarkable concentration and elegance. The wine exhibits vibrant acidity with flavors of citrus, white peach, and subtle toasted oak, representing the pinnacle of Japanese Chardonnay and Château Mercian's meticulous viticulture.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子メルロー
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Merlot
RedMerlot
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Merlot is the flagship red wine of the Mariko Vineyard in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, made from 100% estate-grown Merlot. Hand-harvested from vines rooted in the region's low-rainfall, clay-rich terroir, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel and wooden vats at 25-30°C for roughly two weeks before aging around a year in French oak barrels. The result is a deep ruby-red wine of remarkable concentration, marrying ripe, almost jammy black fruit with the structure and tannic power that has made Mariko Merlot one of the benchmark wines of Japanese viticulture.
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子シラー
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Syrah
RedSyrah
Château Mercian Mariko Winery Syrah is a single-vineyard red wine made from 100% Syrah grown in the Mariko Vineyard on the Jinba plateau in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. The vineyard's low rainfall, well-drained soil, and pronounced diurnal temperature swings produce a cool-climate Syrah with pronounced white and black pepper spice, violet aromatics, and dark berry fruit, framed by fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Since Château Mercian began planting the vineyard in 2003, Mariko has repeatedly been named one of Asia's top entries in the World's Best Vineyards ranking, and this Syrah has gone on to win medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge, cementing its reputation as one of Japan's benchmark cool-climate Syrahs.
北信カベルネ・ソーヴィニヨン
Hokushin Cabernet Sauvignon
RedCabernet Sauvignon
Hokushin Cabernet Sauvignon is Château Mercian's terroir-driven red wine from the Hokushin district in northern Nagano Prefecture, where the producer began VSP trellis cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2000. The area's sandy, gravelly soil offers excellent drainage, and its low rainfall combined with a wide diurnal temperature swing allows for slow, even ripening. The wine shows a deep garnet color with aromas of ripe blackberry and cassis layered with red fruit nuances of raspberry, and notes of chocolate and vanilla from oak aging. On the palate it is well balanced, with ample acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins, vinified and aged for around 18 months in oak barrels at Château Mercian's Katsunuma Winery in Yamanashi.
北信シャルドネ
Hokushin Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
Hokushin Chardonnay is Château Mercian's flagship terroir-driven white wine, made from Chardonnay grown on both banks of the Chikuma River in the Hokushin district of northern Nagano Prefecture (Suzaka City, Takayama Village, and Nagano City). Grapes from the sandy-gravel right bank contribute freshness and structure, while the clay-rich left bank lends tropical elegance; the two are fermented separately by plot and carefully blended. Fermentation takes place at 18-21°C over roughly two weeks, followed by around six months of aging in French oak barrels. The result is a bright, complex Chardonnay with tropical and citrus fruit, well-integrated oak, and a mineral, long finish that has repeatedly earned international medals.