Solaris Chikumagawa Shinano Riesling
ソラリス 千曲川 信濃リースリング
Mann's Wines
Shinano Riesling
About this wine
Solaris Chikumagawa Shinano Riesling is Mann's Wines' dry white wine crafted from Shinano Riesling — a proprietary grape variety the winery bred by crossing Riesling (father) and Chardonnay (mother), officially registered in 1991. Grown for over 30 years in the Omori district around Komoro, Nagano, the vines benefit from the cool, high-altitude climate of the Chikuma River valley. To capture the grape's aromatic potential, the must undergoes overnight skin contact before fermentation, followed by quiet aging sur lie for added body and texture. The wine shows a bright lemon-yellow color with an expressive nose of pear, apricot, yellow flowers and honey; the palate opens with ripe fruit and closes on a crisp, lively acidity echoing Riesling's varietal signature.
A friendly, aromatic introduction to Japan's own home-bred Riesling cross — vivid fruit and floral aromas without heavy sweetness.
Sommelier's Note
"This is the wine that proves Japan can breed its own world-class aromatic white grape — Shinano Riesling's pear-and-apricot lift rivals classic cool-climate Riesling."
Food Pairings
Its bright acidity and aromatic lift make it a natural match for sashimi, tempura, and other delicately seasoned dishes; it also stands up well to spicy fare and sushi, and pairs nicely with soft, creamy cheeses.
When to drink it
Everyday pairing with Japanese meals, casual gatherings, or as a conversation-starting introduction to Japan's original grape varieties.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Shinano Riesling
- Style
- White
- Alcohol
- 12
- Price Range
- ¥3,400-3,800
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from estate-grown and contracted Shinano Riesling from the Omori district near Komoro. Overnight skin contact extracts aromatic compounds from the skins, followed by fermentation and extended aging on the lees (sur lie) to build texture. ABV approximately 12%.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Shinano Riesling?
- Shinano Riesling is a proprietary grape variety bred by Mann's Wines by crossing Riesling (father) and Chardonnay (mother). It was officially registered in 1991 and is grown almost exclusively around the winery's Komoro vineyards in Nagano.
- What does Solaris Chikumagawa Shinano Riesling taste like?
- It shows a bright lemon-yellow color with aromas of pear, apricot, yellow flowers and honey, opening with ripe fruit on the palate and finishing with crisp, lively acidity.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- Sashimi, tempura, sushi, and dashi-based Japanese dishes are classic matches; it also holds up well against spicy food and soft, creamy cheeses.
- Is there a sweeter version of this wine?
- Yes. Mann's also produces a Cryo-Extraction version of Solaris Shinano Riesling, made by freezing the harvested grapes and pressing them as they thaw, yielding a concentrated, luxuriously sweet dessert wine.
- How should it be served?
- Serve chilled around 8-10°C to highlight its aromatic lift and crisp acidity, ideally alongside Japanese cuisine.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
ソラリス 東山メルロー
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RedMerlot
Solaris Higashiyama Merlot is one of Mann's Wines' flagship red cuvées, made entirely from Merlot grown in the winery's self-managed single vineyard in the Higashiyama district of Ueda City, Nagano. Merlot was planted here in 2008 to explore the variety's potential in an area already celebrated for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard sits at roughly 550 meters on a south-facing gentle slope, on soil formed from ancient marine sediment uplifted millions of years ago when the area was still seabed. Strict yield control, hand-harvesting, and careful berry selection precede fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by about 20 months of oak barrel aging; only the barrels judged worthy of the top cuvée are bottled. The wine has earned recognition including a Gold medal at the Vinalies Internationales for its 2018 vintage and a Silver medal at the Japan Wine Competition 2022.
ソラリス ル・シエル
Solaris Le Ciel
WhiteShinano Riesling · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc
Solaris Le Ciel is the flagship white cuvée of Mann's Wines' premium Solaris line, produced at the Komoro Winery in Nagano. Grown on a single, self-managed south-facing slope adjacent to the winery at roughly 670-680 meters elevation, the vineyard is named after 'Tenjin,' the local place name for the plot — hence 'Le Ciel,' French for 'sky' or 'heaven.' Unlike a typical blend, Le Ciel is made through field-blend co-fermentation: Shinano Riesling (Mann's own proprietary cross), Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are harvested on the same day, judged by the ripeness balance across the plot rather than variety by variety, then pressed and fermented together. This approach — deeper than assemblage — aims to capture the terroir of the Komoro plot as a single expression rather than a sum of varietal parts. The wine shows a bright, greenish-yellow color with aromas of ripe pear, apricot, white flowers and fresh herbs, a fruit-forward and slightly oily texture balanced by crisp acidity and a faint salinity, finishing with a herbal, dewy freshness.
ソラリス 千曲川メルロー ビオロジック
Solaris Chikuma River Merlot Biologique
RedMerlot
Solaris Chikuma River Merlot Biologique is an ultra-limited organic red cuvée from Mann's Wines' Komoro Winery, made entirely from Merlot grown in the "Beppu" single vineyard just east of the winery in Komoro City, Nagano — within the Chikuma River Wine Valley. The vineyard sits at roughly 650m elevation on a gentle south-facing slope with volcanic-ash clay soil, and has been certified organic (from cultivation through vinification) by JONA, Japan's organic certification body, since the winery began organic viticulture trials in 2010. Only a few hundred bottles are produced each vintage, fermented on skins for three to four weeks and aged 14 months in 100% French oak (medium toast), yielding a wine of pure fruit expression, refined tannins, and a distinctly mineral, terroir-driven character that sets it apart from Mann's conventionally farmed Solaris Merlot bottlings.