About Sou
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat of Alexandria, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
- Price Range
- Around ¥3,500-4,000 (tax incl.) at retailers; Grape Ship does not sell direct, so prices vary by shop.
Sou is Grape Ship's white blend from the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama, pairing the estate's signature Muscat of Alexandria with Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. The three latter varieties, picked in late August, are pressed and fermented separately in barrel; the Muscat of Alexandria, picked in late September, undergoes a short whole-cluster maceration in stainless steel before its own barrel fermentation and aging. The four lots are blended shortly before bottling, unfined, unfiltered and with no added sulfites. The wine's name means the sound of a gust of wind, echoed on the label by a bird carrying a grape branch in flight over the Seto Inland Sea. Sou has been released across multiple vintages since 2020, with alcohol varying by year (roughly 8-10.1%); the 2024 vintage (10.1% ABV; 39% Muscat of Alexandria, 36% Marsanne, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Chenin Blanc) opens with white flowers, fresh herbs, ripe pear and quince, moving into green apple and grapefruit with bright acidity and a pleasant bitterness.
Sou shows how far Muscat of Alexandria — this coast's historic table grape — can travel when blended with classic Rhône and Loire whites; barreling each lot separately before blending gives it more structure than the estate's lighter mellow series.
New to wine?
A gentle, food-friendly introduction to Japanese natural wine, built around the estate's signature Muscat of Alexandria alongside three classic white grapes.
Food Pairings
Its crisp acidity and gentle bitterness make it a natural match for spring vegetable tempura, sashimi and other delicate seafood, and light Japanese dishes in general.
When to drink it
A bright spring or early-summer table wine — good with seasonal vegetable tempura, light seafood, or simply on its own.
Terroir & Winemaking
Grapes are grown organically in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama. Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc (picked in late August) are pressed and fermented separately in barrel. Muscat of Alexandria (picked in late September) undergoes a brief whole-cluster maceration in stainless steel before pressing and its own barrel fermentation and aging. The four components are blended shortly before bottling. No fining, no filtration, no added sulfites. Alcohol has varied by vintage, roughly 8-10.1%.
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 grapes go into Sou?
- A blend of Muscat of Alexandria, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, all grown organically in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama.
- Does the blend ratio change every year?
- Yes — the 2024 vintage is 39% Muscat of Alexandria, 36% Marsanne, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Chenin Blanc, and the mix shifts from vintage to vintage.
- What does the name Sou mean?
- 颯 (Sou) describes the sound of a gust of wind; the label shows a bird carrying a grape branch in flight over the Seto Inland Sea, echoing that image.
- Are sulfites added?
- No — like the rest of Grape Ship's range, Sou is bottled unfined, unfiltered and with no added sulfites.
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