About Steuben
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Steuben
- Price Range
- ¥3,000-3,300
- Alcohol
- 10.5%
Steuben is a light-bodied red wine from Les Vins Vivants made from 100% purchased Steuben grapes — a dark-skinned American hybrid variety — grown in Aomori Prefecture (the estate's own Tomi City vines are Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chenin Blanc and Riesling). The whole clusters are fermented in an open wooden vat through indigenous-yeast whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration for roughly three weeks before pressing, after which the wine is aged about seven to eight months in a 500L foudre without topping up (non-ouillage). No sugar, acid, or sulfites are added at any stage, and the wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined. Steuben's labrusca-tinged, grapey aromatics come through as ripe strawberry and grape-candy notes layered with the light tannin and gentle smokiness typical of the estate's carbonic-maceration reds. Note that in more recent vintages (2024 onward) the producer has shifted this cuvée to a whole-bunch-press, blanc de noir style instead of full maceration — this entry reflects the semi-carbonic-maceration red version currently listed on the producer's official product page.
A rare full-red rendering of the American hybrid Steuben grape — carbonic maceration and foudre aging give its labrusca-perfumed fruit real structure without losing its charm.
New to wine?
An easy entry point into red natural wine — light body, candy-like Steuben aromatics, and gentle tannin.
Food Pairings
Its light tannin and fresh red-fruit character pair well with fried chicken (karaage), salt-grilled yakitori, and dishes with a touch of sweetness such as ginger pork. Serve lightly chilled.
When to drink it
Casual get-togethers with friends, or an evening with karaage and yakitori, served lightly chilled.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% purchased Steuben grapes from Aomori Prefecture. Whole clusters (no destemming) undergo indigenous-yeast whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration for about three weeks in an open wooden vat, then are pressed and aged 7-8 months in a 500L foudre without topping up. No added sugar, acid, or sulfites at any stage; unfiltered and unfined; bottled at 750ml. ABV varies slightly by vintage (11% in 2022, 10.5% in 2023). From 2024 onward the producer instead uses whole-bunch pressing with juice-only fermentation and foudre aging (no maceration), yielding an amber-toned blanc de noir style rather than this semi-carbonic red.
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 →More wines from Les Vins Vivants
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is Les Vins Vivants' Steuben made from?
- It's made from 100% Steuben, a dark-skinned American hybrid grape variety, purchased from growers in Aomori Prefecture rather than the estate's own Nagano vines.
- Is Steuben a red or white wine?
- The version currently listed on the producer's official site (2022-2023 vintages) is a light-bodied red made via whole-bunch semi-carbonic maceration; more recent vintages (2024 onward) are instead made in a whole-bunch-press, blanc de noir (white-style) method.
- How is Steuben made?
- Whole clusters undergo indigenous-yeast semi-carbonic maceration for about three weeks in an open wooden vat, then are pressed and aged 7-8 months in a 500L foudre without topping up, with no added sulfites, sugar, or acid.
- What does Steuben taste like?
- Grapey, candy-like and lychee-tinged Steuben aromatics with ripe strawberry fruit, light tannin, and a gentle smokiness from foudre aging.
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