About mellow Blue Label
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat of Alexandria
- Price Range
- Roughly ¥3,000-3,500 (tax included) at Japanese retailers — Grape Ship does not sell direct, so prices vary slightly by shop.
Mellow Blue Label is Grape Ship's skin-contact ("orange wine") expression of 100% Muscat of Alexandria, grown organically (JAS-certified) in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama. The base wine undergoes whole-berry maceration in stainless steel for about two weeks before pressing; part of it is then re-macerated on skins pressed from the Pink Label lot before the components are blended and bottled unfiltered with zero added sulfites. The result is the fullest-bodied, most structured wine in the mellow series — a hazy, deep-hued white that opens with hay and straw and unfolds into white peach, muscat, quince and lychee, carried by a savory, umami-rich palate with a touch of citrus bitterness and gentle tannin. Where the Yellow Label is a crisp pétillant and the Pink Label a softer barrel-aged still wine, Blue Label is built around extended skin contact and layered complexity.
The most serious, skin-contact-driven wine in the mellow lineup — proof that Muscat of Alexandria, usually treated as a light table grape, can carry real structure and savory depth.
New to wine?
A gentle but eye-opening introduction to orange/skin-contact wine — fuller-bodied than a typical white, but the ripe stone-fruit sweetness keeps it approachable.
Food Pairings
Its umami depth and gentle tannin make it a strong match for dishes with some richness or char: yakitori (thigh, tsukune), miso-glazed vegetables, mushroom dishes, and semi-hard cheeses. The citrus-edged bitterness also cuts nicely through fried foods like tempura.
When to drink it
A relaxed summer dinner with grilled or smoky dishes, or a natural-wine tasting where you want to showcase Muscat of Alexandria's range.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% organically farmed (JAS-certified) Muscat of Alexandria from Funao, Kurashiki. Whole-berry maceration in stainless steel tanks (roughly two weeks) followed by pressing; part of the wine is further macerated on skins pressed from the Pink Label lot in enamel tanks for about three more weeks before a final press. Lots are blended and bottled unfiltered, with no fining agents and no added sulfites. Alcohol level is vintage-dependent (around 7.5-9.6% across the 2022 and 2024 releases).
About the producer
Grape ShipNatural wines from Kurashiki's century-old Muscat vines倉敷市, 岡山県 · Founded 2021Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Mellow Blue Label different from the Yellow and Pink labels?
- All three use 100% Muscat of Alexandria from the same Funao vineyards, but Blue Label undergoes the longest skin contact — whole-berry maceration plus a second maceration on Pink Label's pressed skins — giving it the fullest body and most tannin, versus Yellow Label's crisp pétillant sparkle and Pink Label's softer, barrel-aged still style.
- Is Mellow Blue Label a sparkling wine?
- No — unlike the pétillant Yellow Label, Blue Label is a still (non-sparkling) skin-contact white, though it can show a very light natural spritz depending on the vintage.
- What does it taste like?
- It opens with hay and straw aromas that evolve into white peach, muscat, quince and lychee, with a savory, umami-driven palate, citrus bitterness and soft tannin.
- Does Mellow Blue Label contain added sulfites?
- No — like all Grape Ship wines, it is fermented with indigenous yeast, bottled unfiltered, and made with zero added sulfites.
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