About L'Orient Adirondac
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Adirondack
- Price Range
- ¥2,200-2,300
- 720ml
- Alcohol
- 8-9%
L'Orient Adirondac is a limited-release nouveau red wine from Shirayuri Brewing (Katsunuma, Koshu City, Yamanashi), made from Adirondack — a rare American (Vitis labrusca-derived, Isabella-family) black grape now grown by very few farmers in Japan. Released each September alongside the winery's other 'shinshu' (new wine) bottlings, it is fermented lightly to showcase the grape's signature candy-like, cotton-candy (wataame) aromatics and juicy, grapey fruit. It is a sweet, light-bodied red best served chilled, and is one of the most distinctive and sought-after items in Shirayuri's nouveau lineup, often selling out shortly after release.
One of Japan's rarest grape expressions in a glass — Adirondack's cotton-candy aromatics make this the most instantly memorable bottle in Shirayuri's nouveau lineup, and it disappears from shelves faster than any of them.
New to wine?
A great first red for anyone who finds typical reds too tannic — think grape candy in a glass, no bitterness at all.
Food Pairings
Its candy-like sweetness and juicy fruit make it a fun match for fresh fruit desserts, cheesecake, and mild blue cheese; it also pairs surprisingly well with spicy dishes since the sweetness tempers the heat. Best enjoyed chilled on its own as an aperitif or dessert pour.
When to drink it
Autumn nouveau celebrations, casual gatherings, dessert pairing, gifts for wine beginners
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from Adirondack, a labrusca-derived black grape grown around Katsunuma; low-intervention nouveau-style vinification releases the wine the same autumn as harvest to preserve fresh, aromatic fruit character. Bottled as a light-bodied sweet red, 720ml format.
About the producer
L'Orient WineAward-winning Koshu served at the G7 Hiroshima Summit甲州市, 山梨県 · Founded 1938Visit the producer page →Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is L'Orient Adirondac made from?
- It is made from Adirondack, a black grape variety of the Vitis labrusca (Isabella) family grown by a shrinking number of farmers around Katsunuma, Yamanashi — often described in Japan as a 'phantom' (maboroshi) grape because of its scarcity.
- Is L'Orient Adirondac a red, white, or rosé wine?
- It is a light-bodied sweet red wine, sold in Shirayuri Brewing's own catalog under its red-wine and sweet-wine categories.
- Is L'Orient Adirondac a nouveau (new wine)?
- Yes. It is released every September as part of Shirayuri Brewing's shinshu (new wine) lineup, made from grapes harvested that same year to capture fresh, vivid aromatics.
- What does L'Orient Adirondac taste like?
- Tasting notes describe a cotton-candy-like (wataame) sweet aroma with rich, juicy grape fruit flavor — a light-bodied, easy-drinking sweet red best served chilled.
- How much alcohol does L'Orient Adirondac contain?
- As a fresh-harvest nouveau wine, its alcohol content varies slightly by vintage, typically in the 8-9% range.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
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