Is CuFu Koshu made from grapes grown at Hiruzen Wine's own vineyard in Okayama?

No — like CuFu Merlot, the grapes are sourced from outside the estate, in this case Koshu from Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan's traditional Koshu-growing region. The wine is vinified and bottled at the Hiruzen winery in Okayama.

Why is Koshu a white wine if the grape's skin is reddish-purple?

Koshu's skin is pinkish-purple but its juice is nearly clear, so when pressed and fermented without extended skin contact it produces a white wine rather than a rosé or red.

How does CuFu Koshu differ from CuFu Merlot?

CuFu Koshu is a still white made from Yamanashi Koshu, with citrus and green-apple aromas and a soft, food-friendly finish, while CuFu Merlot is a full-bodied Shimane-grown red with cassis and toasted-oak character built for aging — the two sit at opposite ends of the CuFu range.

Do the 2023 and 2025 vintages of CuFu Koshu taste the same?

No — Hiruzen Wine notes the two releases (720ml 2023 and 360ml 2025) were made to taste differently, so they are sold as a deliberate comparison pair rather than simple repeats of the same wine.

CuvéeOkayamaWhite

CuFu Koshu

CuFu甲州

Hiruzen Wine

About CuFu Koshu

Style: White
Grape Varieties: Koshu
Price Range: ¥3,500 excl. tax / ¥3,850 incl. tax (720ml, 2023); ¥1,800 excl. tax / ¥1,980 incl. tax; 360ml, 2025

CuFu Koshu is the white-wine entry in Hiruzen Wine's CuFu label, the Okayama producer's line dedicated to European Vitis vinifera varieties rather than its signature native Yamabudo. Unlike CuFu Merlot (sourced from Shimane Prefecture), this bottling is made from Koshu grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan's historic home for the variety. Because Koshu's pinkish-purple skins yield a nearly clear juice, the wine is fermented and bottled as a white despite the grape's rosy hue. The 2023 vintage (720ml) won Silver at the Japan Wine Challenge 2024, and a 2025 vintage (360ml) followed, deliberately styled to taste differently from its predecessor so the two can be tasted side by side. In the glass it shows an almost transparent, lustrous pearl-yellow color, with a nose of blue-tinged yuzu and sudachi citrus and green apple that opens into young grass and a light oiliness on swirling. The palate is fresh and balanced, with gentle acidity and a pleasant grapefruit-pith bitterness on the finish.

Sommelier's Note

CuFu Koshu shows this Yamabudo specialist can handle Japan's most storied white grape too — an almost translucent white built on citrus and grapefruit-pith bitterness that proves Koshu doesn't need Yamanashi soil under the vine, only Yamanashi fruit in the glass.

New to wine?

A soft, citrus-driven Koshu that's a gentle, food-friendly way to try Japan's signature white grape.

Food Pairings

Hiruzen Wine's own sommelier recommends pairing it with salt-grilled ayu (sweetfish) or amago river trout finished with a touch of Japanese citrus; it also suits vegetable aspic (yasai no zerii-yose) and oil-based pasta dishes.

When to drink it

A light lunch or aperitif with grilled river fish, or a comparison tasting alongside the 2023 and 2025 vintages to see how the Koshu style shifts year to year.

Terroir & Winemaking

Made from 100% Koshu grapes sourced from Yamanashi Prefecture — one of the CuFu label's European-variety whites alongside Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, released separately from Hiruzen Wine's native-Yamabudo lineup. The 2023 vintage (720ml, ¥3,500 excl. tax / ¥3,850 incl. tax) won Silver at the Japan Wine Challenge 2024; a 2025 vintage (360ml, ¥1,800 excl. tax / ¥1,980 incl. tax) was released afterward as a deliberately different-tasting follow-up. Tasting notes attributed to Hiruzen Wine's in-house sommelier, Makoto Sakashita.

About the producer

Hiruzen WinePioneer of Japan's native yamabudo wine on the Hiruzen Plateau since 1978.真庭市, 岡山県 · Founded 1987Visit the producer page →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CuFu Koshu made from grapes grown at Hiruzen Wine's own vineyard in Okayama?: No — like CuFu Merlot, the grapes are sourced from outside the estate, in this case Koshu from Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan's traditional Koshu-growing region. The wine is vinified and bottled at the Hiruzen winery in Okayama.
Why is Koshu a white wine if the grape's skin is reddish-purple?: Koshu's skin is pinkish-purple but its juice is nearly clear, so when pressed and fermented without extended skin contact it produces a white wine rather than a rosé or red.
How does CuFu Koshu differ from CuFu Merlot?: CuFu Koshu is a still white made from Yamanashi Koshu, with citrus and green-apple aromas and a soft, food-friendly finish, while CuFu Merlot is a full-bodied Shimane-grown red with cassis and toasted-oak character built for aging — the two sit at opposite ends of the CuFu range.
Do the 2023 and 2025 vintages of CuFu Koshu taste the same?: No — Hiruzen Wine notes the two releases (720ml 2023 and 360ml 2025) were made to taste differently, so they are sold as a deliberate comparison pair rather than simple repeats of the same wine.

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