About Wakanae
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Price Range
- ¥3,800-4,800
Wakanae is a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Fukuyama Wine Workshop's Grower Series, a line dedicated to telling the story of one contracted grower's grapes. The fruit comes from Rocto, a table-grape farm in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, that began planting wine grapes in 2019 on the Shimura Plateau at roughly 250 metres of elevation in the Chugoku mountains. A chance meeting in 2025, around the time the winery was rebuilding after losing its original premises, led Rocto to share fruit with owners Kazuaki and Rika Furukawa. The Sauvignon Blanc is destemmed, crushed, and pressed slowly and gently, then fermented at a cool temperature below 15°C for about a month, left to clarify naturally before racking and bottling — a style chosen to bring out the variety's aromatic character. Flavour and aroma shift from vintage to vintage depending on harvest timing and weather.
Wakanae shows how much a single grower can shape a wine's identity — Rocto's high-elevation Shimura Plateau fruit gives this Sauvignon Blanc a clarity and lift that speaks directly of its mountain site.
New to wine?
An easy, aromatic introduction to Japanese Sauvignon Blanc — bright apple and pear notes with a crisp finish that never feels heavy.
Food Pairings
The bright acidity and apple-and-pear aromatics make it a natural match for lightly dressed seafood, citrus-marinated white fish, and fresh chèvre. In a Japanese meal it works especially well alongside tempura and sunomono (vinegared vegetable and seafood salads), where its crispness cuts through the oil and rice vinegar.
When to drink it
A refreshing choice for a spring or summer aperitif, a light seafood lunch, or as a conversation-starting introduction to Japan's emerging grower-series wines.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Rocto's vineyard on the Shimura Plateau (Mihara City, Hiroshima). Destemmed and crushed, then gently, slowly pressed. Fermented at a low temperature (below 15°C) for approximately one month. Left to settle and clarify naturally before racking and bottling, without forced fining.
About the producer
Fukuyama Wine WorkshopFukuyama's first urban winery, hand-riddled Champagne-method sparkling wine.福山市, 広島県 · Founded 2016Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- Who grows the grapes for Wakanae?
- Rocto, a farm in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, traditionally known for table grapes, which began growing Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for winemaking in 2019 on the Shimura Plateau at about 250 metres elevation.
- What grape variety is Wakanae made from?
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented at a low temperature to preserve its aromatic, apple-and-pear character.
- What is the Grower Series that Wakanae belongs to?
- Fukuyama Wine Workshop's Grower Series highlights wines made from a single contracted grower's fruit, each named after a Japanese colour that matches the image of the wine; Wakanae is one of the series alongside Kisuisen and Botan, all grown by Rocto.
- What does Wakanae taste like?
- An aromatic, refreshing white with the classic Sauvignon Blanc lift of apple and pear, and a crisp finish typical of cool-fermented, gently pressed juice.
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