About Cabernet Sauvignon
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Price Range
- ¥7,000-7,500
- Alcohol
- 14%
Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% single-varietal red from Funky Chateau, Nagano's cult natural-wine estate in Aoki Village. Unlike the estate's Chardonnay and Merlot cuvées, which are largely sourced from contract growers in Takayama Village, this wine comes from Cabernet Sauvignon planted on Funky Chateau's own vineyard in the Higashiyama district of Ueda City — relatively young vines (around ten years old as of the 2020 vintage) on the estate's characteristically poor, well-draining soils. The grapes are hand-harvested in mid-to-late October and undergo roughly four to five weeks of spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank, followed by about two years of aging in oak barriques (including sun-dried French oak) and further bottle aging under Diam cork before release. The result is a deeply colored, structurally serious red with concentrated black-fruit character, restrained oak, and tannins that soften into a silky, well-knit structure with age. Like most of Funky Chateau's reds, it is sold almost exclusively face-to-face at the winery's shop and tasting events rather than through online retail.
Funky Chateau's estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon shows that Ueda's Higashiyama vineyards can produce a genuinely age-worthy, barrel-structured Japanese red — concentrated, oak-framed, and built to reward patience.
New to wine?
A serious, barrel-aged Japanese red for those ready to move beyond light, easy-drinking styles — best approached with some patience and decanting.
Food Pairings
A structured red built for grilled and roasted red meats — lamb chops, beef steak, or venison — as well as aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. In a Japanese context, it pairs well with yakiniku, gyudon-style simmered beef, or grilled duck with a soy-based glaze.
When to drink it
A special-occasion bottle for a steak or lamb dinner, or a gift for a collector interested in serious, barrel-aged Japanese Cabernet Sauvignon.
Terroir & Winemaking
Estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon 100% from Funky Chateau's own vineyard in the Higashiyama district of Ueda City, Nagano — young vines (roughly 10 years old as of the 2020 vintage). Hand-harvested mid-to-late October. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tank over about four to five weeks, then aged roughly two years in oak barriques (French oak used in some vintages) before bottling under Diam cork and further bottle aging. Sulfites are added as an antioxidant at bottling (not a no-sulfite cuvée). Sold almost exclusively via face-to-face retail at the winery and partner shops.
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
- Is this wine made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Yes. The label lists Cabernet Sauvignon 100%, grown on Funky Chateau's own vineyard in the Higashiyama district of Ueda City, Nagano — distinct from the estate's Merlot-based Funky Rouge.
- Where can I buy Funky Chateau's Cabernet Sauvignon?
- At the winery's own request, it is sold almost exclusively face-to-face at the Funky Chateau shop and select physical wine retailers in Japan, rather than through online mail order.
- How is it aged?
- After about four to five weeks of spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, the wine is aged roughly two years in oak barriques before bottling under Diam cork, followed by further bottle aging before release.
- Does it contain added sulfites?
- Yes — unlike some of Funky Chateau's other cuvées, this wine lists sulfites (antioxidant) added at bottling on its label.
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