About Fuji no Shizuku
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Fuji no Shizuku (Yamabudou × Cabernet Sauvignon hybrid)
- Price Range
- ¥1,200 (375ml) / ¥2,000 (720ml), excl. tax at original 2017 release — this batch is now sold out
Fuji no Shizuku is a dry red wine made from a rare Nagano-bred hybrid grape of the same name, a cross between wild mountain grape (yamabudou, Vitis coignetiae) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Released by Ina Wine Workshop in June 2017 as its 'op.20' small-lot batch (from grapes harvested in 2016), the wine has an intensely deep color — locals jokingly call it a 'black wine' — but a surprisingly gentle, soft palate: mild acidity, low tannin, and no residual sugar. The winemaker designed it as an approachable entry point for drinkers who find typical dry reds too sharp or tannic. This particular op.20 batch is now sold out; Ina Wine Workshop continues to release new small-lot 'op.' wines from local growers' fruit.
Proof that Nagano's home-bred hybrid grapes can produce reds with real character without demanding tannin tolerance — Fuji no Shizuku's near-black color hides a disarmingly soft, everyday-friendly wine.
New to wine?
Deep in color but gentle in the glass — a good pick for drinkers who assume all dry reds are sharp and tannic.
Food Pairings
A gentle, food-friendly red that works well with everyday dishes rather than heavy, tannin-loving fare — think grilled chicken, teriyaki-glazed dishes, or mild stewed meats.
When to drink it
Casual weeknight dinners and everyday home cooking
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from Fuji no Shizuku, a Nagano-bred hybrid crossing yamabudou (Vitis coignetiae, Japan's wild mountain grape) with Cabernet Sauvignon. Ina Wine Workshop labels each small-lot release with a sequential 'op.' (opus) number to credit the specific grower and harvest behind it; this wine was released as op.20 in June 2017 from fruit picked in 2016. Vinified dry with no residual sugar; the producer emphasizes soft tannin extraction to keep the wine approachable despite its very deep, dark color.
About the producer
Ina Wine WorkshopA husband-and-wife 'wine workshop' crafting Ina Valley's small-lot, contract-made wines.伊那市, 長野県 · Founded 2014Visit the producer page →More wines from Ina Wine Workshop
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is Fuji no Shizuku made from?
- It's made from a grape of the same name, 'Fuji no Shizuku' — a Nagano-bred hybrid crossing wild mountain grape (yamabudou, Vitis coignetiae) with Cabernet Sauvignon.
- What does Fuji no Shizuku taste like?
- A dry red with an intensely deep, almost black color, but a soft, gentle palate: mild acidity, low tannin, and no residual sugar — much easier-drinking than its appearance suggests.
- Why is it labeled 'op.20'?
- Ina Wine Workshop numbers its small-lot releases sequentially as 'op.' (opus) to credit the specific grower and harvest year behind each batch; this bottling was the winery's 20th release, made from 2016-harvest fruit and sold from June 2017.
- Is Fuji no Shizuku (op.20) still available?
- No, this particular 2016-vintage op.20 batch is sold out. Ina Wine Workshop continues to release new small-lot 'op.' wines using fruit from local Ina Valley growers.
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