Nara
楢
Mongaku Valley Winery
Pinotage · Pinot Noir · Pinot Gris · Sauvignon Blanc · Chardonnay
About this wine
The most distinctive of the trio. Pinotage-dominant (54% in 2024), Nara expresses the unique, spicy character of this rare variety in a blanc de noir style. Floral and honeyed on the nose with lychee, grapefruit pith bitterness, and saline minerality. Pinotage's characteristic spice and structure give Nara a bold, unconventional profile that stands apart from most Japanese whites.
Japan's most unusual Pinotage expression — for adventurous drinkers ready to try something genuinely different
Sommelier's Note
"Nara is the wild card of the Mongaku Valley lineup — Pinotage-dominant whites are vanishingly rare anywhere in the world, and this one is genuinely worth seeking out."
Food Pairings
The spicy Pinotage character pairs well with Asian-spiced dishes, roasted game meats, herb-centered cuisine, and ginger-forward preparations. Also excellent with pork belly and earthy root vegetables.
When to drink it
Exploring Japanese wine, comparing Hokkaido styles, pairing with earthy or spiced cuisine
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ~50 / ¥4,500–5,500
Terroir & Winemaking
Pinotage-dominant field blend, co-fermented with wild yeasts in blanc de noir style. Gravity flow, unfined and unfiltered.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Nara different from Tochi and Haku?
- Nara is dominated by Pinotage (54%), a rare hybrid variety almost never used for white wines. Its characteristic spice, lychee notes, and grapefruit bitterness give Nara a bold, unconventional profile unlike anything else in Japanese wine.
- What does Nara taste like?
- Floral and honeyed on the nose with lychee, white spice, and grapefruit pith. On the palate, Pinotage's characteristic spiciness, subtle tannins, dashi-like umami, and a saline mineral finish. More structured and adventurous than Haku.
- What food pairs best with Nara?
- Nara's spice and structure love bold flavors: pork belly (kakuni), duck, roasted root vegetables, and miso-marinated dishes. Also pairs surprisingly well with Asian spiced preparations and ginger-forward cuisine.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
栢
Haku
WhiteChardonnay · Pinot Noir · Pinot Gris · Pinotage · Sauvignon Blanc
Haku is the lightest and most aromatic of the three main cuvées. Chardonnay-dominant (61% in 2024), it features a bright, Champagne-like complexity with ripe citrus, white flowers, and a clean mineral finish. The subtle influence of Pinot Noir and Pinotage adds delicate structure without weight. Haku is designed for immediate pleasure but also rewards 1–2 years of aging.
栃
Tochi
WhitePinot Noir · Pinotage · Pinot Gris · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc
Mongaku Valley's flagship cuvée. A Pinot Noir-dominant field blend of 5–7 co-planted varieties, wild-yeast fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2024 vintage comprises Pinot Noir (64%), Pinotage (23%), Pinot Gris (5%), Chardonnay (4%), and Sauvignon Blanc (4%). Despite being a white wine, the dominant Pinot Noir gives Tochi a firm, three-dimensional structure that sets it apart from most whites. The palate shows dashi-like umami, saline minerality, and a complex, long finish.
桧
Hinoki
WhitePinot Noir · Pinotage · Pinot Gris · Sauvignon Blanc · Chardonnay
The experimental series of the Mongaku Valley lineup. While the three main cuvées (Tochi, Haku, Nara) follow a consistent field blend philosophy, Hinoki explores different winemaking approaches with each vintage — including extended maceration, unusual assemblages, and limited production runs. Some vintages are released as white wine; others as red. Named after Japanese cypress, the only needle-leaf tree among the acorn-named cuvées, reflecting its unconventional character.