Where do the grapes for Bailey A come from?

Les Vins Vivants doesn't grow Muscat Bailey A on its own Tomi City vines; the grapes are purchased from growers, with the source varying by vintage between Yamagata Prefecture and Minami-Alps City in Yamanashi Prefecture, winemaker Takahiro Ogino's hometown.

Is Bailey A a natural (low-intervention) wine?

Yes. It's fermented with indigenous wild yeast through whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration, with no added sugar, acid, or sulfites at any stage, and bottled unfiltered and unfined.

What food pairs well with Bailey A?

Its juicy fruit and soft tannins pair naturally with yakitori (tare), teriyaki chicken, pork dishes with sweet-savory glazes, and mild soft cheeses — it also works well lightly chilled with everyday Japanese home cooking.

CuvéeTomiRed

Bailey A

ベリーA

Les Vins Vivants

About Bailey A

Style: Red
Grape Varieties: Muscat Bailey A
Price Range: ¥3,800-4,300

Bailey A is Les Vins Vivants' single-varietal red made from 100% purchased Muscat Bailey A — sourced from growers in Yamagata Prefecture in some vintages and from Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture (winemaker Takahiro Ogino's hometown) in others. Grapes are neither destemmed nor crushed; whole clusters undergo semi-carbonic maceration with indigenous wild yeast in an open vat, with daily pigeage (punch-downs) once fermentation is underway. After roughly three to four weeks of maceration the must is pressed with a pneumatic membrane press and aged for about one to nine months in old French oak (barrel or 500L foudre, vintage-dependent) before racking and bottling unfiltered and unfined. No sugar, acid, or sulfites are added at any stage. Ogino describes making Bailey A with Gamay in mind, and retailers often compare its style to a Beaujolais: a light-to-medium-bodied, juicy red with jammy strawberry and candy-like aromatics layered with violet, cinnamon, damp earth, and tobacco-leaf notes from barrel aging, smooth acidity, and a savory, umami-rich finish. In the 2023 vintage, a shortage of Bailey A fruit led the estate to blend in Bordeaux varieties instead, released as the separate cuvée 'Bailey A to' (ベリーAと); this Bailey A bottling refers to the pure single-varietal releases.

Sommelier's Note

This is the wine that shows why Muscat Bailey A deserves more respect: Les Vins Vivants' Bailey A takes a grape often dismissed as a table-grape curiosity and, through whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration and patient barrel aging, coaxes out a Beaujolais-like charm that is unmistakably Japanese.

New to wine?

A gentle, Beaujolais-like introduction to natural Muscat Bailey A — juicy and jammy with soft tannins, easy to enjoy chilled.

Food Pairings

A versatile, food-friendly red that suits roast or grilled chicken, yakitori with tare sauce, and pork dishes glazed with sweet-savory sauces, as well as beef, rich fish, and mild soft cheeses; its light-medium body and juicy fruit also make it a natural match for Japanese home cooking.

When to drink it

Casual dinners, yakitori or izakaya nights, and everyday Japanese home cooking.

Terroir & Winemaking

100% purchased Muscat Bailey A (source varies by vintage — Yamagata Prefecture or Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture). Whole-cluster, no destemming or crushing; open-vat semi-carbonic maceration with indigenous wild yeast, daily pigeage, roughly 3-4 weeks on skins; pressed with a pneumatic membrane press and aged in old French oak (barrel or 500L foudre) for 1-9 months depending on vintage. No added sugar, acid, or sulfites at any stage; unfiltered, unfined. 750ml bottling. ABV has ranged from roughly 9% to 10% across vintages.

About the producer

Les Vins VivantsHusband-and-wife natural wine and cider from Nagano's Tomi.東御市, 長野県 · Founded 2019Visit the producer page →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Les Vins Vivants' Bailey A taste like?: It's a light-to-medium-bodied natural red with jammy strawberry and candy-like fruit up front, layered with violet, cinnamon, damp earth, and tobacco-leaf notes from barrel aging. The acidity is smooth and the finish savory, often compared to a rustic Beaujolais.
Where do the grapes for Bailey A come from?: Les Vins Vivants doesn't grow Muscat Bailey A on its own Tomi City vines; the grapes are purchased from growers, with the source varying by vintage between Yamagata Prefecture and Minami-Alps City in Yamanashi Prefecture, winemaker Takahiro Ogino's hometown.
Is Bailey A a natural (low-intervention) wine?: Yes. It's fermented with indigenous wild yeast through whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration, with no added sugar, acid, or sulfites at any stage, and bottled unfiltered and unfined.
What food pairs well with Bailey A?: Its juicy fruit and soft tannins pair naturally with yakitori (tare), teriyaki chicken, pork dishes with sweet-savory glazes, and mild soft cheeses — it also works well lightly chilled with everyday Japanese home cooking.

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