About Heritage Red
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat Bailey A, Black Queen, Bailey Alicante A
- Price Range
- ¥5,500-9,200
- Alcohol
- 12%
Heritage Red is Iwanohara Vineyard's top cuvée, named in tribute to the legacy of Zenbei Kawakami, the 'Father of Japanese Wine' who founded the winery in 1890. Each vintage is blended solely from the finest estate-grown grapes of the Kawakami-bred varieties — Muscat Bailey A, Black Queen, and Bailey Alicante A — after rigorous fruit selection. The wine is aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, producing a full-bodied red with concentrated aromatics, layered dark-fruit and toasty oak notes, and refined tannins. Heritage Red has repeatedly earned top honors both in Japan and internationally, including gold at the Japan Wine Competition and TOP OF THE BEST at the Feminalise World Wine Competition.
Heritage Red is Iwanohara's definitive statement wine — the closest expression of what Zenbei Kawakami's breeding legacy can achieve when only the best fruit and patient French oak aging are allowed to speak.
New to wine?
Iwanohara's flagship red — more structured and complex than Miyukihana Red, a great next step for those exploring Japanese wine beyond the basics.
Food Pairings
The winery's own pairing recommendation is unagi kabayaki (grilled eel) and dishes seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, or miso. The wine's concentrated dark fruit and firm tannins also stand up well to grilled beef, beef stew, and aged hard cheeses.
When to drink it
A special-occasion gift or celebratory dinner wine — well suited to introducing Japan's winemaking heritage to guests, or pairing with a rich meat-centered meal.
Terroir & Winemaking
A blend of estate-grown Muscat Bailey A, Black Queen, and Bailey Alicante A, selected from only the best fruit each vintage. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. ABV 12%, full-bodied dry red, cork closure. Serve at 16–18°C.
About the producer
Iwanohara VineyardThe birthplace of Muscat Bailey A and pioneer of Japanese wine.上越市, 新潟県 · Founded 1890Visit the producer page →More wines from Iwanohara Vineyard
- Black QueenRed · Black Queen
- Ephemeral No.1White · Koshu · Red Millennium
- Miyukihana RedRed · Muscat Bailey A
- Miyukihana RoséRosé · Muscat Bailey A
- Miyukihana WhiteWhite · Chardonnay · Rose Shioter
- Red Millennium White (Dry)White · Red Millennium
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grapes go into Heritage Red?
- It is a blend of estate-grown Muscat Bailey A, Black Queen, and Bailey Alicante A — all grape varieties originally bred by Zenbei Kawakami, Iwanohara's founder.
- What does Heritage Red taste like?
- A full-bodied, concentrated red with layered dark-fruit aromatics, subtle toasty oak notes from 15 months in French barrels, and refined, well-integrated tannins.
- Has Heritage Red won any awards?
- Yes. Vintages of Heritage Red have won gold at Japan's national Japan Wine Competition multiple times, and the 2021 vintage received TOP OF THE BEST — the highest score for a Japanese wine — at the Feminalise World Wine Competition 2024.
- What food pairs well with Heritage Red?
- The winery recommends grilled eel (unagi kabayaki) and dishes flavored with soy sauce, mirin, or miso; it also pairs well with grilled or stewed beef and aged cheeses.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the Sommelier