About this wine
Kuju Winery EBONY is a landmark Japanese red made from 'Ebony,' an original grape variety the winery bred by crossing wild mountain grapes (yamabudo) native to the Kuju Highlands with Merlot — a cross formerly known during development as 'Kushifuru no Yume.' Grapes are left on the vine as long as possible to push sugar levels into the 26-32 Brix range, concentrating the wild grape's naturally intense acidity and pigment. The result is a full-bodied, bone-dry red with an almost jet-black (ebony) color, deep black-fruit concentration, black pepper spice, and a distinctive wild, savory umami character rarely found in Japanese wine. The 2020 vintage won the Gold Award and top prize in its category at Japan's 1st Yamabudo (Wild Grape) Wine Competition, cementing EBONY's status as one of Kuju Winery's signature bottlings.
A bold, full-bodied Japanese red for drinkers who want something more intense and wild than typical Japanese wine — a good next step after trying lighter Muscat Bailey A or Merlot bottlings.
Sommelier's Note
"EBONY is proof of what an original Japanese hybrid variety can achieve — a wild-grape-driven red with real concentration, structure, and umami that stands apart from typical Muscat Bailey A reds."
Food Pairings
The wine's concentrated black fruit, savory umami, and firm acidity make it a natural match for grilled red meat and steak, game dishes, and aged hard cheeses. It also stands up well to rich stews and dishes finished with dark, reduced sauces.
When to drink it
Ideal for special dinners, celebrations, or as a distinctive gift for wine enthusiasts seeking rare, terroir-driven Japanese wines.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Ebony (wild grape × Merlot hybrid)
- Style
- Red
- Price Range
- ¥5,000-5,500
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from Ebony, an original hybrid variety (wild yamabudo × Merlot) grown on the volcanic soils of the Kuju Highlands at 850-900m elevation. Grapes are harvested late to reach roughly 26-32 Brix, concentrating color, acid, and extract. Fermented and aged to produce a full-bodied, dry red of around 12.5% ABV with firm tannins. Bottled at 720ml. Vintages vary (recent releases include 2020-2022); a limited rosé version ('Starycats') is also produced in small volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is Kuju Winery EBONY made from?
- It is made from 'Ebony,' an original variety Kuju Winery bred by crossing wild mountain grapes (yamabudo) native to the Kuju Highlands with Merlot.
- What does it taste like?
- A full-bodied, bone-dry red with an almost jet-black color, concentrated black fruit, black pepper spice, and a distinctive wild acidity and umami from the wild grape parentage.
- What food does it pair with?
- Grilled red meat, steak, and game dishes are classic matches, and its umami-rich profile also works surprisingly well with sweet-savory Japanese dishes like sukiyaki or grilled eel.
- Has it won any awards?
- The 2020 vintage won the Gold Award and the top prize in its category at Japan's 1st Yamabudo (Wild Grape) Wine Competition.
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シャルドネ キャットウォーク
CatWalk Chardonnay
WhiteChardonnay
CatWalk Chardonnay is Kuju Winery's flagship white bottling, named — like its sibling CatWalk Merlot — after the two resident winery cats that watch over fermentation from the factory window; the CatWalk label is reserved each year for the estate's proudest work. Made from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay farmed at 850m elevation in the Kuju Highlands, the wine is fermented and aged in oak barrels for roughly six months. The result is a clean, fruit-forward white with aromas of white peach, grapefruit, pineapple and nectarine layered with subtle notes of nut, honey and butter from barrel contact, carried by the bright, three-dimensional acidity typical of Kuju's cool highland terroir and a long finish. The 2021 vintage won Gold at the Japan Wine Competition 2023, and a special hand-picked 'Nightharvest' edition — grapes harvested at midnight under moonlight to preserve higher acidity — took Gold plus the category's top award the same year, cementing CatWalk Chardonnay's status as one of Kyushu's most decorated white wines.
高原の雫
Kuju Winery Kougen no Shizuku
WhitedessertSteuben
Kougen no Shizuku ("Highland's Dewdrop") is Kuju Winery's signature ice wine, one of only a handful of true ice wines produced in Japan. Made from Steuben grapes grown at the winery's own vineyard 850 meters up in the Kuju Highlands of Oita Prefecture, the grapes are left on the vine into the depths of winter and allowed to freeze naturally before pressing, concentrating their sugars and flavor several times over. The result is a lusciously sweet, honey-gold dessert wine with intense notes of ripe mango and honey. Because natural freeze-concentration is unpredictable and juice yields are tiny, Kougen no Shizuku has historically been released only in small, numbered batches — as few as 58 bottles in some vintages — making it one of Kuju Winery's rarest and most sought-after bottlings.