About Cuvée Misawa Rouge
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- Price Range
- ¥8,000-15,000
Cuvée Misawa Rouge is Grace Wine's flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, grown at the estate's own Misawa Vineyard in Akeno, Hokuto City (Yamanashi) at roughly 700m elevation — one of the sunniest, most diurnal sites in Japan. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is vinified and aged separately by variety before blending, then matured in French oak for about 15 months and bottled without fining or filtration. Vintage composition varies year to year depending on ripening conditions, and the wine is only produced in years judged good enough. Critics have compared it to a very good Bordeaux classified growth, noting cassis, blackberry, black pepper, mocha and toasted-oak notes alongside a savory, medium-bodied palate.
A Bordeaux blend that has been described by international critics as comparable to a very good classified growth — proof that Japan's Akeno terroir can produce world-class Cabernet-based reds, not just Koshu.
New to wine?
A serious, food-friendly introduction to premium Japanese red wine — structured like a fine Bordeaux blend but with its own distinct sense of place.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with grilled duck, soy-glazed dishes, and mushroom-based cuisine. It also complements delicate Japanese flavors such as Wagyu sukiyaki or grilled eel (unagi) with tare sauce, thanks to its savory, umami-friendly structure.
When to drink it
Special celebrations, formal dinners, or as a prestigious gift for wine connoisseurs.
Terroir & Winemaking
Sourced entirely from the estate's Misawa Vineyard (Akeno, Hokuto City), grown at high altitude with large diurnal temperature swings. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are hand-harvested, sorted twice, fermented separately with each variety's own approach, then aged individually in French oak before final blending and roughly 15 months of barrel aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered; blend ratios differ by vintage.
About the producer
Grace WineJapan's most internationally decorated winery: first Japanese Gold Medal and Regional Trophy at Decanter World Wine Awards (Cuvée Misawa Akeno Koshu 2013); Asia's first sparkling Platinum (Grace Extra Brut 2011); Cuvée Misawa Akeno 2016 scored 98 points at DWWA; selected as World Top 10 Wine by Bloomberg; JWA 2025 five-star winner. Misawa Vineyard at 700m elevation, Japan's longest sunshine region.甲州市, 山梨県 · Founded 1923Visit the producer page →More wines from Grace Wine
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape varieties are in Cuvée Misawa Rouge?
- It is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grown at Grace Wine's Misawa Vineyard in Akeno; exact ratios vary by vintage.
- What does it taste like?
- Expect cassis and blackberry fruit, black pepper, mocha and toasted-oak notes, with a savory, medium-bodied and food-friendly palate.
- What food does it pair with?
- It pairs well with grilled duck and mushroom dishes, and with soy-based Japanese cuisine such as Wagyu sukiyaki or grilled eel (unagi).
- Is it produced every year?
- No — Grace Wine only releases Cuvée Misawa Rouge in vintages where the Misawa Vineyard grapes ripen well enough, so production is not annual.
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