About Sakura
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥3,800
- before tax
- Alcohol
- 11%
Sakura is a limited 'Friendship Wine' jointly crafted in 2016 by Yuki Nakano of Kunoh Wines and Fattoria AL FIORE at Akiu Winery in Sendai. Nakano, who now works as a winemaker at Don & Kindeli Wines in New Zealand and Smallfry Wines in Australia, returned to Japan each summer from 2016 to make wine together with Fattoria AL FIORE — in 2016 at Akiu, in 2017 at Grape Republic, and eventually at Fattoria AL FIORE's own winery. Sakura commemorates that shared winemaking friendship. It is made from 100% Merlot grown by Ono Farm in Takahata, Yamagata Prefecture — the same fruit used for the winery's Rosso 2016 and Verde 2016. A portion of the carefully selected Merlot is fermented whole-cluster, with the remainder destemmed; after one month of skin contact, the wine is aged six months in barrique, producing a well-balanced wine with soft tannins and gentle oak character. Only 280 bottles were produced, with a label designed by sacco.
A true story-in-a-bottle: Sakura captures a winemaking friendship across hemispheres, and its soft, barrique-aged Merlot from Takahata proves Yamagata can produce red wines of real finesse.
New to wine?
A friendly, approachable red with soft tannins and light oak — a gentle entry point into Japanese Merlot.
Food Pairings
The soft tannins and gentle oak pair naturally with grilled or roasted red meats, mushroom dishes, and semi-hard cheeses. In a Japanese context, it works especially well with teriyaki-glazed chicken or grilled unagi, where the wine's oak-kissed structure echoes the dish's caramelized, savory-sweet notes.
When to drink it
Perfect for toasting friendships and collaborations — a celebratory dinner, a reunion with old friends, or a thoughtful gift marking a meaningful partnership.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Merlot from Ono Farm in Takahata, Yamagata Prefecture. Carefully selected grapes are partly fermented whole-bunch, with the remainder destemmed, followed by one month of skin contact and six months of aging in barrique (small oak barrels). ABV 11%. Only 280 bottles produced from the joint 2016 vintage with Kunoh Wines' Yuki Nakano.
About the producer
Fattoria AL FIOREAdditive-free natural wines from a converted schoolhouse in Miyagi.川崎町, 宮城県 · Founded 2015Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What friendship does Sakura commemorate?
- It commemorates the winemaking collaboration and friendship between Yuki Nakano of Kunoh Wines (now a winemaker at Don & Kindeli Wines in New Zealand and Smallfry Wines in Australia) and Fattoria AL FIORE, who made wine together each summer starting in 2016.
- What grape variety is used in Sakura?
- Sakura is made from 100% Merlot grown by Ono Farm in Takahata, Yamagata Prefecture — the same fruit source used for Fattoria AL FIORE's Rosso 2016 and Verde 2016.
- How is Sakura made?
- A portion of the selected Merlot is fermented whole-bunch and the rest is destemmed; after one month of skin contact, the wine ages six months in barrique, resulting in soft tannins and moderate oak character.
- How many bottles of Sakura were produced?
- Only 280 bottles were produced, making it one of Fattoria AL FIORE's rarest limited-edition bottlings.
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