What grape is With Chardonnay made from?

100% Chardonnay, grown in Nelson, New Zealand.

Is this a Japanese wine or a New Zealand wine?

It's a collaboration cuvée: Grape Republic, based in Nanyo, Yamagata, sent its winemaking team to New Zealand to harvest and vinify the grapes together with winemaker Alex Craighead, who is also an advisor to Grape Republic.

What does With Chardonnay taste like?

Tropical fruit aromas with a dairy-like nuance, fresh papaya, and yogurt-like sweet-tart notes on the finish; barrel-derived softness emerges as the wine warms in the glass.

How should I serve it?

Chill it close to refrigerator temperature at first, then let it warm slightly in the glass to reveal its barrel-derived texture and softness.

CuvéeYamagataWhite

With Chardonnay

ウィズ・シャルドネ

Grape Republic

About With Chardonnay

Style: White
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Price Range: Around ¥3,960
Alcohol: 12.5%

With Chardonnay is a 2023 collaboration cuvée from Grape Republic, produced in Nelson, New Zealand together with winemaker Alex Craighead — also an advisor to Grape Republic — as part of the winery's overseas winemaking exchange program, in which its team traveled to New Zealand to take part in the harvest and vinification. Made from 100% whole-bunch pressed Chardonnay, fermented and aged in barrel with wild yeast, the wine is unfined, unfiltered, and made without added sulfites, extending Grape Republic's 'Made of 100% Grapes' philosophy beyond its home vineyards in Yamagata.

Sommelier's Note

Proof that Grape Republic's low-intervention philosophy travels — the same wild-yeast, no-additive approach applied to New Zealand Chardonnay instead of Yamagata's native varieties.

New to wine?

A gentle introduction to barrel-aged natural Chardonnay — creamy and fruit-forward rather than austere.

Food Pairings

Its tropical fruit aromas and dairy-like richness call for herb-forward dishes and combinations of salt and sweetness — think cream cheese and avocado pasta, or squid carpaccio with dill.

When to drink it

A special find for fans of Grape Republic's regular lineup — pour it well chilled as an aperitif, then let it warm in the glass to reveal its barrel-derived softness.

Terroir & Winemaking

Chardonnay grapes grown in Nelson, New Zealand, whole-bunch pressed, then barrel-fermented and barrel-aged using indigenous wild yeast. Unfined, unfiltered, and bottled without added sulfites. ABV 12.5%.

About the producer

Grape RepublicJapan's largest amphora-fermented, zero-additive natural wine producer南陽市, 山形県 · Founded 2017Visit the producer page →

More wines from Grape Republic

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Frequently Asked Questions

What grape is With Chardonnay made from?: 100% Chardonnay, grown in Nelson, New Zealand.
Is this a Japanese wine or a New Zealand wine?: It's a collaboration cuvée: Grape Republic, based in Nanyo, Yamagata, sent its winemaking team to New Zealand to harvest and vinify the grapes together with winemaker Alex Craighead, who is also an advisor to Grape Republic.
What does With Chardonnay taste like?: Tropical fruit aromas with a dairy-like nuance, fresh papaya, and yogurt-like sweet-tart notes on the finish; barrel-derived softness emerges as the wine warms in the glass.
How should I serve it?: Chill it close to refrigerator temperature at first, then let it warm slightly in the glass to reveal its barrel-derived texture and softness.

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