About Cabernet Franc
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Cabernet Franc
- Price Range
- ¥7,000-9,000
Cabernet Franc is a single-varietal red from Funky Chateau's own Higashiyama vineyard in Ueda, Nagano — the same estate plot the winery began planting in 2008. Grapes are hand-sorted, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged for an extended period in barrique without fining or filtration. The result is an elegant, aromatic wine with floral, almost meadow-like perfume, silky tannins built up over long aging, and concentrated black-fruit depth beneath an approachable, structured frame. It is bottled as a small, in-person-only release and frequently sells out.
This is where Funky Chateau shows its most Burgundy-influenced side — proof that Nagano's Higashiyama slopes can coax real elegance out of Cabernet Franc, not just power.
New to wine?
An elegant, floral introduction to what Japanese-grown Cabernet Franc can be — structured but never heavy.
Food Pairings
The herbaceous, floral character and silky tannins of this Cabernet Franc call for dishes with a little smoke or char: rosemary-scented roast lamb, grilled duck breast, or mushroom-forward vegetable dishes. It also has enough acidity to stand up to tomato-based sauces.
When to drink it
A special-occasion pour for natural-wine and Japanese-wine enthusiasts — best sought out in person at the winery or a specialist retailer, since releases are limited and sell out quickly.
Terroir & Winemaking
Sourced entirely from Funky Chateau's own Higashiyama vineyard (planted from 2008) above Ueda City, an area with over 2,000 annual sunshine hours, low rainfall, and a wide diurnal temperature swing — conditions the winery considers ideal for ripening red varieties. Hand-harvested and hand-sorted, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and matured through an extended barrique-aging regime before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
About the producer
Funky ChateauNagano natural-wine pioneers, minimal intervention purists青木村, 長野県 · Founded 2011Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Funky Chateau's Cabernet Franc taste like?
- Expect a floral, almost meadow-like aroma layered over concentrated black fruit, with silky tannins built up during long barrique aging and a firm, elegant structure.
- Is this the same wine as Funky Rouge?
- No. Funky Rouge is a Merlot-based red, while this Cabernet Franc is a distinct single-varietal bottling from the winery's own Higashiyama vineyard.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Its herbaceous, floral notes and silky tannins pair well with grilled lamb, duck, mushroom-based dishes, and tomato-sauced pasta.
- Is it easy to find?
- Not always — it is produced in small volumes and often sold as an in-person-only release, so past vintages have sold out at retailers.
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