About Grande Polaire Hokuto Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Price Range
- ¥4,500-5,500
- Alcohol
- 13%
Grande Polaire Hokuto Chardonnay is the flagship Chardonnay of Grande Polaire's top-tier Single Vineyard Series, sourced from the Grande Polaire Hokuto Vineyard in Hokuto City, Hokkaido — a roughly 9-hectare estate opened in 2018 on former pastureland belonging to a Trappist monastery. Planted on southeast-facing slopes at 50-120m elevation overlooking the Tsugaru Strait toward Aomori, the site is warmer and less frost-prone than much of Hokkaido, giving Chardonnay a long ripening season on low-fertility, well-drained volcanic-ash (kuroboku) soil over a clay subsoil. The debut <Hatsu Shukaku> ("First Harvest") 2022 vintage launched on June 6, 2023 in a strictly limited run of 500 bottles, marking the first fruit from the vineyard ahead of full-scale releases from 2024 onward.
The first bottling from Grande Polaire's new Hokuto Vineyard, and proof that Hokkaido's Tsugaru Strait coastline is fast becoming one of Japan's most exciting frontiers for cool-climate Chardonnay.
New to wine?
A friendly introduction to Hokkaido Chardonnay — ripe orchard-fruit aromas with refreshing acidity and no heavy oak to intimidate.
Food Pairings
With ripe green-apple, pear and white-peach aromatics balanced by refreshing acidity, this Chardonnay suits grilled scallops, butter-poached shrimp, roast chicken with lemon, and soft, mild cheeses.
When to drink it
A celebratory pour for marking a "first" — a new job, an anniversary, or any milestone worth toasting — and a great conversation-starter for Japanese-wine enthusiasts curious about Hokkaido's newest vineyards.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Chardonnay, hand-harvested from the Grande Polaire Hokuto Vineyard (opened 2018, ~9ha on former Trappist monastery pastureland), on southeast-facing slopes at 50-120m elevation with low-fertility, well-drained ash-derived soil over clay. 750ml bottle. The debut <Hatsu Shukaku> 2022 vintage was released June 6, 2023, limited to 500 bottles.
About the producer
Grande Polaire Katsunuma WinerySapporo's premium Japanese-grape winery in Koshu's birthplace, Katsunuma — closed 2025, production moved to Okayama.Founded 1976Visit the producer page →More wines from Grande Polaire Katsunuma Winery
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do the grapes for Grande Polaire Hokuto Chardonnay come from?
- They come from the Grande Polaire Hokuto Vineyard in Hokuto City, Hokkaido, a roughly 9-hectare estate opened in 2018 on former Trappist monastery pastureland facing the Tsugaru Strait toward Aomori.
- How limited is this wine?
- The debut <Hatsu Shukaku> ('First Harvest') 2022 vintage was released on June 6, 2023 in a strictly limited run of just 500 bottles, ahead of full-scale releases from 2024 onward.
- What does it taste like?
- Expect fragrant aromas of green apple, ripe pear and white peach, with a balanced interplay of refreshing acidity and ripe fruit at 13% ABV.
- Is this part of a wider Grande Polaire Chardonnay lineup?
- Yes — it belongs to Grande Polaire's top-tier Single Vineyard Series, alongside sister bottlings such as the Azumino-Ikeda Chardonnay from Nagano.
Want to know more about this wine?
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