About Mountain Grape Wine
- Style
- Red, Sweet
- Grape Varieties
- Yamabudou (Vitis coignetiae, cultivated)
- Price Range
- 375ml bottle, ¥1,200 (excl. tax, 2017 release price) — now sold out
Mountain Grape Wine is a sweet red wine made from cultivated yamabudou (Vitis coignetiae, Japan's native wild mountain grape) grown by contract farmers in the Ina Valley, Nagano Prefecture. Released by Ina Wine Workshop in June 2017 as its small-lot 'op.18' batch — made from roughly 100kg of grapes harvested in autumn 2016 — the wine balances yamabudou's naturally high acidity with added sweetness to bring out the variety's distinctive aroma, resulting in a deep, dark red wine that is intensely tart and sweet at once. A signature feature promoted by the winery is its versatility across serving temperatures: refreshing when chilled, a medium-bodied food wine at room temperature, and a warm digestif or nightcap when heated to roughly the temperature of warmed sake (atsukan). This particular op.18 lot is now sold out; Ina Wine Workshop continues to release new small-lot yamabudou wines under its ongoing 'op.' series.
Few wines can be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature, and warmed like sake — this yamabudou wine's flexibility across serving temperatures is a distinctly Japanese take on everyday drinking, and its sweet-tart intensity is a pure expression of Japan's native wild grape.
New to wine?
A friendly, no-fuss introduction to yamabudou wine — its sweet-tart balance is easy to enjoy chilled, at room temperature, or even gently warmed, so there's no wrong way to try it.
Food Pairings
The wine's sweet-tart profile makes it a natural match for slightly sweet, soy-glazed Japanese dishes such as grilled eel (unagi kabayaki) or teriyaki chicken, and for aged hard cheeses when served at room temperature. Chilled, it works well as an easy-drinking aperitif on its own; warmed, it pairs best simply sipped as an after-dinner digestif rather than alongside food.
When to drink it
A versatile everyday bottle — chilled as a casual aperitif, at room temperature alongside a home-cooked meal, or warmed as an after-dinner nightcap.
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from 100% cultivated yamabudou (Vitis coignetiae) — roughly 100kg harvested in autumn 2016 from Ina Valley growers — this is one of Ina Wine Workshop's small-lot 'op.' releases, numbered op.18 and bottled in 375ml bottles. The winemaker balances the variety's naturally pronounced acidity with added sweetness rather than fermenting fully dry, to emphasize yamabudou's characteristic aroma. Alcohol content is not disclosed on the producer's product page.
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 is Mountain Grape Wine (op.18)?
- It is a small-lot sweet red wine made by Ina Wine Workshop from cultivated yamabudou (Vitis coignetiae) grown by Ina Valley farmers, using roughly 100kg of grapes harvested in autumn 2016 and released as the winery's 'op.18' batch in June 2017.
- What does it taste like?
- It is a deep, dark red wine described by the producer as intensely tart and sweet — a bold, concentrated flavor that balances yamabudou's natural high acidity with added sweetness to highlight the grape's character.
- How should it be served?
- It can be enjoyed chilled as a refreshing drink, at room temperature as a medium-bodied wine with meals, or gently warmed to roughly the temperature of warmed sake for an after-dinner digestif or nightcap.
- Is it still available to buy?
- No — this op.18 lot was a small-quantity release from the 2016 harvest and is now sold out. Ina Wine Workshop continues to release new yamabudou vintages under its ongoing 'op.' numbering series.
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