About L'Orient Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Koshu
- Price Range
- ¥3,850
- 750ml, official online shop
- Alcohol
- 12%
L'Orient Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa is Shirayuri Winery's flagship single-vineyard, premium Koshu, made exclusively from grapes grown by the veteran grower Kimiharu Nakagawa in the Sueki district of Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki City, Yamanashi — distinct from the winery's everyday 'L'Orient Koshu' nouveau, which is a blend of Yamanashi-grown fruit released fresh each autumn. Bottled in strictly limited quantity (around 5,000-6,000 bottles per vintage) under the Yamanashi GI, it shows fresh Japanese citrus and white-flower aromatics, bright acidity, and the pleasant, structuring bitterness characteristic of Koshu, with notes of green apple, apricot and pear and a saline mineral edge on the finish. Nearly every vintage since 2017 has won medals at competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards (Gold in 2019 and 2025, Silver in multiple years) and the Japan Wine Competition (including a category-best Gold for the 2023 vintage), and the 2021 vintage was served to world leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit working lunch in 2023.
This is Shirayuri's answer to the question 'how good can Koshu really be?' — a single-vineyard, single-grower wine that has picked up an international medal almost every vintage since 2017, and the one L'Orient bottle that was good enough to pour for G7 heads of state.
New to wine?
The prestige, single-vineyard version of Koshu — a great way to see how far Japan's native white grape can go when made from a top-quality, hand-tended vineyard.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with marinated horse mackerel (aji), seafood karaage, herb-sautéed chicken, and salt-fried oysters; its bright acidity and mineral finish also work well with sashimi, grilled white fish, and citrus-dressed salads.
When to drink it
Special occasions, gifting, fine Japanese dining, and moments calling for an award-winning, internationally recognized Japanese white wine.
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from 100% Koshu grapes grown by grower Kimiharu Nakagawa in a single vineyard in Sueki, Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki City, Yamanashi (GI Yamanashi). Bottled at 750ml, ABV approx. 12%, dry style, limited production of roughly 5,000-6,000 bottles per vintage. Best served at 10-12°C.
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 makes L'Orient Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa different from the regular L'Orient Koshu?
- The regular L'Orient Koshu is an autumn nouveau blended from Yamanashi-grown grapes and priced around ¥2,000-2,200. Vigne de Nakagawa is a separate, premium single-vineyard bottling made only from grapes grown by grower Kimiharu Nakagawa in Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki City, produced in limited quantity (around 5,000-6,000 bottles) and priced at ¥3,850.
- Who grows the grapes for Vigne de Nakagawa?
- The Koshu grapes come exclusively from a single vineyard tended by veteran grower Kimiharu Nakagawa in the Sueki district of Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
- Has L'Orient Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa won any awards?
- Yes — nearly every vintage since 2017 has won a medal, including Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2019, 2025) and Silver in several other years, plus a category-best Gold at the 2024 Japan Wine Competition (for the 2023 vintage). The 2021 vintage was also served to world leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit working lunch in 2023.
- What does L'Orient Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa taste like?
- It shows fresh Japanese citrus and white-flower aromatics with bright acidity and Koshu's signature gentle bitterness, plus notes of green apple, apricot, and pear, and a saline, mineral-driven finish that lingers.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- It pairs especially well with marinated horse mackerel (aji), seafood karaage, herb-sautéed chicken, and salt-fried oysters, and more broadly with sashimi, grilled white fish, and other delicate Japanese dishes.
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