About Sou Pinkie
- Style
- Rosé
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat of Alexandria, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
- Price Range
- ¥4,000-5,000
- Alcohol
- 8.5%
Sou Pinkie is a distinctive rosé-hued natural wine from Grape Ship, made from organically grown Muscat of Alexandria, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama. The Muscat of Alexandria was foot-trodden (pigeage) for three days and macerated for three weeks before pressing, while the other three varieties were pressed after harvest; each component was then barrel-fermented separately for nine months before blending and bottling. A delay caused by trouble with a newly purchased corking machine left the assembled wine resting an extra month in tank, during which it oxidized and turned pink at bottling — the origin of its 'Pinkie' name — before settling into its current reddish-tinged straw color. The nose shows plum, peach, and nectarine, with a yogurt-like acidity, notes of butter, roasted nuts, and vanilla, and a pleasant bitterness and salinity that rounds out with time in the glass.
Born from an accident — a corking-machine delay that let the blend oxidize into pink in the tank — Sou Pinkie shows how Grape Ship treats unplanned turns in natural winemaking as an opportunity rather than a flaw; its yogurt-like acidity and quiet salinity are worth seeking out.
New to wine?
A playful, low-alcohol natural wine whose tangy, yogurt-like acidity makes it an easy, memorable first taste of Grape Ship's style.
Food Pairings
Its yogurt-like acidity and salty edge make it a natural match for fresh cheeses and seasonal fruit on a cool autumn evening; it also holds up well to white fish carpaccio, salt-finished tempura, or delicately seasoned simmered dishes.
When to drink it
A relaxed autumn evening, a casual dinner with friends, or a conversation-starting pour thanks to its unusual backstory.
Terroir & Winemaking
Muscat of Alexandria (45%) was foot-trodden for three days and macerated for three weeks, then pressed; Sauvignon Blanc (15%), Marsanne (30%), and Chenin Blanc (10%) were pressed after harvest. Each component was barrel-fermented separately for nine months before blending and bottling, using the same method as the 2021 vintage. Trouble with a newly purchased corking machine delayed bottling by about a month, during which the assembled wine in tank oxidized and turned pink; the current color has settled into a reddish-tinged straw. 750ml bottle, ABV 8.5%, from organically grown fruit in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama.
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
- Why is it called 'Pinkie'?
- A trouble with a newly purchased corking machine delayed bottling of the 2022 vintage by about a month. During that extra time in the blending tank, the wine oxidized and turned pink — giving the wine its 'Pinkie' name, though its color has since settled into a reddish-tinged straw.
- What grapes are used in Sou Pinkie?
- A blend of Muscat of Alexandria (45%), Marsanne (30%), Sauvignon Blanc (15%), and Chenin Blanc (10%), all organically grown in the Funao district of Kurashiki, Okayama.
- What does Sou Pinkie taste like?
- Plum, peach, and nectarine aromas lead into a yogurt-like acidity, with notes of butter, roasted nuts, and vanilla, plus a pleasant bitterness and salinity that softens with time in the glass.
- What food pairs well with it?
- It is especially good with fresh cheese and seasonal fruit, and also pairs nicely with white fish carpaccio, salt-finished tempura, or delicately seasoned Japanese simmered dishes.
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