About this wine
Andosols Shokoshi is Hakusan Winery's flagship red, made from 100% estate-grown Shokoshi (小公子) grapes — a Japanese hybrid mountain grape bred by Haruo Sawanobori from a lineage of Central Asian, Chinese, and Japanese wild vines. The grapes are grown at roughly 500 meters elevation on the volcanic Andosols (black andisol) soil of the Okuetsuzen region at the foot of the Hakusan range in Fukui Prefecture. The wine shows a deep purple-black color, wild, rustic aromatics, piercing acidity, and a medium body with light tannins — notes of wild berry, cherry, and green pepper are typical, with the 2017 vintage bottled at 13% ABV. It is a distinctive expression of Japan's native mountain-grape winemaking tradition.
A bold, tart introduction to Japan's own mountain-grape wine tradition — expect vivid acidity and dark berry character rather than the softness of familiar European reds.
Sommelier's Note
"Few wines capture the wild, untamed character of Japan's mountain grapes as vividly as this one — its piercing acidity and dark fruit make it an essential taste of Fukui's singular terroir."
Food Pairings
The wine's high acidity and firm tannic edge make it a natural match for game meats (venison, wild boar), grilled or simmered dishes with miso or soy-based sauces, and aged hard cheeses. It also pairs well with charcoal-grilled unagi (eel) kabayaki, where the wine's acidity cuts through the rich, sweet glaze.
When to drink it
Best suited to hearty dinners featuring game or richly seasoned dishes, and a distinctive gift for those exploring Japan's native grape varieties.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Shokoshi
- Style
- Red
- Price Range
- Approx. ¥4,250
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Shokoshi grapes from Hakusan Winery's own vineyard in Okuetsuzen, Fukui, at approximately 500m elevation on Andosols (volcanic andisol) soil. Fermented and aged to preserve the variety's naturally vivid acidity and deep color; the 2017 vintage was bottled at 13% ABV with a medium body and light tannin structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Andosols Shokoshi taste like?
- It has a deep purple-black color with wild, rustic aromatics — wild berry, cherry, and green pepper notes — backed by piercing acidity and a medium body with light tannins.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Game meats, miso- or soy-based simmered dishes, grilled eel (unagi kabayaki), and aged hard cheeses all complement its high acidity and tannin.
- What grape is Shokoshi (小公子)?
- Shokoshi is a Japanese hybrid mountain grape bred by Haruo Sawanobori, crossing Central Asian (Himalayan), Chinese, and Japanese wild vines. It is known for small, deep-colored berries with high natural acidity.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- At Hakusan Winery's own vineyard in the Okuetsuzen area of Fukui Prefecture, at roughly 500 meters elevation on volcanic Andosols soil at the foot of the Hakusan mountain range.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
HAKUSAN Andosols ヤマソーヴィニヨン
HAKUSAN Andosols Yama Sauvignon
RedYama Sauvignon
HAKUSAN Andosols Yama Sauvignon is Hakusan Winery's flagship dry red, made from Yama Sauvignon — a Japanese hybrid grape created by crossing the wild mountain grape Vitis coignetiae with Cabernet Sauvignon, bred at the University of Yamanashi and registered in 1990. Grown on the volcanic Andosol (black andosol) soil at roughly 500 meters elevation at the foot of Mt. Kyogamine in Fukui's Okuetsu region, the wine shows a deep red-purple color with plump, concentrated fruit, moderate tannin, and vivid acidity in a medium-bodied, fully dry style. It has been internationally recognized, winning Gold at the 13th Féminalise World Wine Competition (2017 vintage) and again at the 16th edition (2019 vintage) in Paris.
D-style
D-style
WhiteYama-Blanc · Koshu
D-style is Hakusan Winery's dry white blend of Yama-Blanc and Koshu, two grapes that rarely appear together outside this Fukui producer. Yama-Blanc is a green-skinned cross bred at the University of Yamanashi (by Professor Yoshihide Yamakawa) from Pinot Noir and a Yamabudou×Pinot Noir hybrid, carrying roughly 75% Pinot Noir heritage while retaining the wild grape's bright, food-friendly acidity. Blended with Koshu — Japan's signature white variety, prized for its delicate aromatics and subtle skin-contact character — the result is a crisp, clean dry white with citrus-driven fruit and a mineral finish. It is part of a small family of related bottlings from the same base blend (alongside the off-dry "dandan Blanc" and the oak-aged "Blanc Premier"), with D-style representing the fully dry, unoaked expression.
だんだんブラン
Dan-dan Blanc
WhiteYama Blanc · Koshu
Dan-dan Blanc is Hakusan Winery's medium-dry white blend of Yama Blanc — a hybrid bred at the University of Yamanashi by Professor Yoshihide Yamakawa, crossing Japan's native wild mountain grape (Vitis coignetiae) with Pinot Noir — and Koshu, Japan's classic white grape from neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture. The wine is part of Hakusan's 'Dan-dan' line, a name that echoes the terraced (段々, dandan) plateau on which the winery's own vineyards sit at roughly 500 meters elevation at the foot of the Hakusan range in Fukui Prefecture. Yama Blanc contributes crisp, wild-edged acidity and small yellow-to-blue-tinted berries, while Koshu rounds the wine out with its familiar delicate, subtly floral character. The result is an easy-drinking, refreshing white with citrus and green-apple notes and a touch of sweetness lingering just past a dry-leaning core.