About this wine
Zen no Sato Sparkling is a non-vintage bottle-fermented sparkling wine from Heidee Winery, named after Monzen-cho, the Wajima district where the winery is based and which has long been known as the 'Village of Zen' (Zen no Sato) for its 700-year history tied to Soji-ji Temple, the head temple of the Soto Zen school. It is a blend of roughly 57% Seibel, 22% Chardonnay, and 21% Koshu, and is the only sparkling wine in the Hokuriku region produced using the traditional in-bottle secondary fermentation method (methode traditionnelle), with roughly 45 days of secondary fermentation in bottle to build a fine, persistent mousse. The result is a dry, crisp sparkling wine with aromas of apple, yeast, and a subtle touch of oak, often compared in style to a Ferrari Brut, with a short but clean finish.
An approachable, dry Japanese sparkling wine — a great entry point for those curious about bottle-fermented Japanese sparklers.
Sommelier's Note
"The only bottle-fermented sparkling wine in the Hokuriku region — its fine mousse and dry, apple-and-yeast character place it in the same conversation as Ferrari Brut, a remarkable feat for a small Noto Peninsula estate."
Food Pairings
A dry, food-friendly sparkling wine that works well as an aperitif or alongside Noto's fresh seafood, tempura, and sashimi, echoing Heidee Winery's broader philosophy of pairing wine with the blue fish of the Sea of Japan and Satoyama vegetables.
When to drink it
Celebratory toasts, aperitif hour, or as a food-pairing sparkling wine with Japanese seafood dishes.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Seibel, Chardonnay, Koshu
- Style
- Sparkling
- Price Range
- ¥4,500-5,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Blend of approximately 57% Seibel, 22% Chardonnay, and 21% Koshu. Produced by the traditional in-bottle secondary fermentation method (methode traditionnelle) — the only winery in the Hokuriku region to use this technique for sparkling wine — with about 45 days of secondary fermentation in bottle to build fine, persistent bubbles. Non-vintage (NV).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grapes are used in Zen no Sato Sparkling?
- It is a blend of approximately 57% Seibel, 22% Chardonnay, and 21% Koshu.
- Is Zen no Sato Sparkling sweet or dry?
- It is dry, with crisp acidity and notes of apple, yeast, and a subtle hint of oak.
- How is it made?
- It uses the traditional in-bottle secondary fermentation method, the only winery in the Hokuriku region to produce sparkling wine this way, with about 45 days of secondary fermentation in the bottle.
- Why is it called 'Zen no Sato'?
- Monzen-cho, where Heidee Winery is located, has long been known as 'Zen no Sato' (Village of Zen) due to its 700-year connection to Soji-ji Temple, the head temple of the Soto Zen school.
- What food pairs well with it?
- It pairs well with Noto's fresh seafood, tempura, and sashimi, and works nicely as an aperitif.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
禅の里わいん ルージュ
Zen no Sato Rouge
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Zen no Sato Rouge is Heidee Winery's approachable entry-line red, named after Monzen-machi in Wajima — known locally as the 'Zen village' for its 700-year history centered on Sojiji Soin, a head temple of the Soto Zen sect. Made from 100% Muscat Bailey A fermented in stainless steel to preserve its bright, fruity character, the wine shows a brilliant purplish-ruby hue with an inviting bouquet of fresh strawberry, cherry, and raspberry. On the palate it is dry and medium-bodied at 11% alcohol, with condensed fruit flavor, gentle acidity, and soft, well-integrated tannins — a youthful, easy-drinking red built for everyday enjoyment.
千里 ソーヴィニヨン・ブラン
Senri Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteSauvignon Blanc
Senri Sauvignon Blanc is a single-varietal white wine from Heidee Winery's SENRI (千里) range, crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the mineral-rich, coastal soils of Monzen-machi, Wajima City, on the Noto Peninsula. Hand-harvested and gently pressed, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperature (16-19°C) over roughly three weeks to preserve varietal freshness, followed by multiple rackings for clarity. The wine shows an aromatic profile of white peach, summer mandarin, and fresh herbs, with crisp, citrus-driven acidity and a lively lemon character leading to an elegant, lingering finish that reflects the maritime terroir of Oku-Noto.
禅の里わいん ブラン
Zen no Sato Blanc
WhiteKoshu
Zen no Sato Blanc is Heidee Winery's flagship white, named after Monzen-machi in Wajima — known locally as the 'Zen village' for its 700-year history centered on Sojiji Soin, a head temple of the Soto Zen sect. Made from 100% Koshu, Japan's signature indigenous grape, the wine shows a pale, translucent lemon-yellow hue with a delicate aroma of ripe pear and green apple. On the palate it is medium-dry and light-bodied at around 11% alcohol, with juicy fresh fruit, bright acidity, and a clean, mineral-tinged finish shaped by the vineyard's sea-facing, mineral-rich coastal soil — an easy-drinking, food-friendly expression of Noto terroir.