About Additive-Free Muscat Bailey A
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat Bailey A
- Price Range
- ¥1,500-2,200
- 500ml; the winery sets no fixed retail price — actual prices vary by retailer, in line with the sister mutenka Delaware bottling
A limited-production, sulfite-free red wine made from 100% Muscat Bailey A grapes grown on Katashimo Wine Foods' home vineyards in Kashiwara, Osaka. Bottled in a compact 500ml format, it is crafted without any added sulfites (no antioxidants added), letting the grape's naturally candy-like aroma and soft, sweet character come through unobscured. Part of the winery's mutenka (無添加) series alongside its sister wine made from Delaware, it reflects Katashimo's century-long expertise in low-intervention winemaking in one of Japan's oldest wine-producing regions.
Katashimo's mutenka Muscat Bailey A distills everything charming about Japan's native grape into a small, honest bottle — no additives, no pretense, just candy-sweet fruit from century-old Osaka vines.
New to wine?
A gentle, fruity introduction to Japanese red wine — sweet, low-tannin, and easy to enjoy even for those new to wine.
Food Pairings
Its gentle sweetness and juicy, candy-berry fruit make it an easy match for slightly sweet or umami-rich dishes such as teriyaki chicken, unagi (grilled eel), or simmered pork belly. It also pairs comfortably with soft cheeses and fruit-based desserts, and works well served lightly chilled on its own as an aperitif.
When to drink it
Casual gatherings, light Japanese home cooking, or as a friendly first red wine to share with wine beginners.
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from 100% Muscat Bailey A, a Japanese-bred hybrid variety (Bailey × Muscat Hamburg) developed by Zenbei Kawakami, grown on Katashimo's own vineyards in Kashiwara, Osaka. Vinified without any added sulfites, a hallmark of the winery's 'mutenka' line, and bottled in a 500ml format as a numbered-quantity limited release.
About the producer
Katashimo Wine Foods Co., Ltd.West Japan's oldest winery, crafting wine since 1914.柏原市, 大阪府 · Founded 1914Visit the producer page →More wines from Katashimo Wine Foods Co., Ltd.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does "additive-free" mean for this wine?
- It means no sulfites (antioxidants) are added during winemaking — a defining feature of Katashimo's mutenka series, relying instead on careful, low-intervention handling of the grapes.
- What grape is used?
- 100% Muscat Bailey A, a Japanese-bred hybrid grape known for its distinctive candy-like, strawberry aroma.
- Is it sweet or dry?
- It is a sweet-style (甘口) red wine with soft tannins and juicy fruit character, making it approachable even for those who find drier reds too tannic.
- How is it best served?
- Lightly chilled, around 12-14°C, to accentuate its fruity, candy-like aromatics; it pairs especially well with slightly sweet Japanese dishes.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the Sommelier