What grape is Tabiji (Rosé Gris) made from?

It is made from Tabiji, a rare Vitis vinifera × labrusca hybrid grape rediscovered in Otaru's Shioya district and now grown mainly around Yoichi and Niki in Hokkaido.

What does Tabiji (Rosé Gris) taste like?

Fresh red-fruit aromas with soft, refreshing acidity, finishing spicy and dry thanks to the orange-wine style skin contact.

What food pairs well with it?

It pairs especially well with Japanese cuisine — sashimi, grilled fish, and tempura of mountain vegetables — as well as light poultry dishes.

Hakkenzan Winery presses juice from the pale pink-skinned Tabiji grape and ferments it with extended skin contact, an 'orange wine' technique, rather than a typical saignée rosé method.

CuvéeHokkaidoRosé

Tabiji (Rosé Gris)

旅路(ロゼ・グリ)

Hakkenzan Winery

About Tabiji (Rosé Gris)

Style: Rosé
Grape Varieties: Tabiji
Price Range: ¥2,500-3,500; estimated, based on comparable 720ml bottlings from the same winery

Tabiji is a rare Vitis vinifera × labrusca hybrid grape rediscovered in the Shioya district of Otaru, Hokkaido, prized for its pale pink, gooseberry-striped skin. Hakkenzan Winery presses the juice from these delicate berries and ferments it with extended skin contact in an 'orange wine' style, producing a pale rosé-gris with fresh red-fruit aromatics, soft, refreshing acidity, and a distinctively spicy, dry finish that reflects the Hokkaido terroir.

Sommelier's Note

One of the few wines made from the native Tabiji grape — its spicy, dry finish and delicate rosé-gris hue make it a genuinely distinctive expression of Hokkaido terroir worth seeking out.

New to wine?

A rare chance to taste a Hokkaido-native grape variety — dry, spicy, and food-friendly without being intimidating.

Food Pairings

The dry, spicy profile and bright acidity suit grilled or raw seafood, light poultry, and vegetable-forward dishes. Serve lightly chilled alongside sashimi or tempura for a refreshing contrast.

When to drink it

A casual dinner with Japanese cuisine, or a conversation-starting pour for wine enthusiasts curious about rare Japanese grape varieties.

Terroir & Winemaking

Made from the Tabiji grape (a Vitis vinifera × labrusca hybrid native to Otaru's Shioya district) using an orange-wine method: extended skin contact with the pale pink-gray skins to extract color and flavor before pressing, resulting in a rosé-gris style with a dry, spicy character.

About the producer

Hakkenzan WineryTerroir-driven wines at Mt. Hakkenzan's foot, Sapporo札幌市, 北海道 · Founded 2011Visit the producer page →

More wines from Hakkenzan Winery

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Frequently Asked Questions

What grape is Tabiji (Rosé Gris) made from?: It is made from Tabiji, a rare Vitis vinifera × labrusca hybrid grape rediscovered in Otaru's Shioya district and now grown mainly around Yoichi and Niki in Hokkaido.
What does Tabiji (Rosé Gris) taste like?: Fresh red-fruit aromas with soft, refreshing acidity, finishing spicy and dry thanks to the orange-wine style skin contact.
What food pairs well with it?: It pairs especially well with Japanese cuisine — sashimi, grilled fish, and tempura of mountain vegetables — as well as light poultry dishes.
How is it made?: Hakkenzan Winery presses juice from the pale pink-skinned Tabiji grape and ferments it with extended skin contact, an 'orange wine' technique, rather than a typical saignée rosé method.

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