About Sparkle
- Style
- Sparkling
- Grape Varieties
- Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
- Price Range
- ¥2,500-3,500
- approx., 720ml
Sparkle is the pét-nat-style sparkling wine of Kurokamiyama Vineyard, a one-man grower estate at the foot of Mt. Kurokamiyama in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture. It is made from the estate's own Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay — the two white varieties proprietor Akiyoshi Hayakawa first planted on his reclaimed hillside plot in 2014, before Chardonnay was grafted over to more Sauvignon Blanc in 2019. As the winery holds no crushing license of its own, the fruit was vinified under contract at Hitomi Winery in Shiga Prefecture, a producer known for wild-yeast fermentation and bottling unfiltered and unfined. Sparkle undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation in the bottle, arriving cloudy and lightly effervescent, with the citrus-driven, high-acid character typical of this cool, hillside fruit. It is a small-batch, limited release alongside the estate's still white Blanc, and availability varies by vintage.
One of the rare pét-nat-style sparklers to come out of Okayama's small-grower scene — cloudy, wild-fermented, and unmistakably handmade.
New to wine?
A cloudy, gently fizzy natural sparkler that's easy to love — think citrus and orchard fruit with a soft, approachable mousse.
Food Pairings
The bright acidity and gentle bubbles make Sparkle a natural aperitif wine — pair it with fried chicken (karaage), grilled sardines, or fresh chèvre. Its citrus-forward profile also works well with light seafood and salads.
When to drink it
A relaxed aperitif or weekend dinner opener, best enjoyed with friends in a casual setting.
Terroir & Winemaking
Estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from Kurokamiyama Vineyard's reclaimed hillside plot in the Kamikumatani district of Niimi City (Okayama), farmed by a single grower on roughly 0.5 hectares. Vinified under contract at Hitomi Winery (Shiga Prefecture) with indigenous wild yeasts, bottled unfiltered and unfined, then finished with a traditional secondary fermentation in bottle (méthode traditionnelle / pét-nat-adjacent). No fining, no filtration; naturally hazy in appearance.
About the producer
Kurokamiyama VineyardOne-man Sauvignon Blanc grower in Niimi, custom-crushed with care新見市, 岡山県 · Founded 2014Visit the producer page →More wines from Kurokamiyama Vineyard
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grapes are used in Kurokamiyama Vineyard's Sparkle?
- Sparkle is made from estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, the two white varieties Kurokamiyama Vineyard first planted in 2014 on its hillside plot in Niimi City, Okayama.
- Is Sparkle made using the traditional method (bottle fermentation)?
- Yes. After wild-yeast fermentation under contract at Hitomi Winery in Shiga Prefecture, the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the bottle, giving it natural, gentle bubbles and a hazy, unfiltered appearance.
- Why does Sparkle look cloudy?
- It is bottled unfiltered and unfined, in keeping with Hitomi Winery's low-intervention style, so fine lees and natural sediment remain in the bottle, giving the wine its characteristic haze.
- What food pairs well with Sparkle?
- Its bright acidity and light bubbles make it a great aperitif, and it pairs especially well with fried chicken (karaage), grilled fish, and fresh cheeses.
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