Nikkawa Muscat Bailey A Rosé
マスカット・ベーリーA ロゼ
Nikkawa Winery
Muscat Bailey A · Yama Sauvignon
About this wine
A rosé from Nikkawa Winery in Katsunuma, Yamanashi, blending the indigenous Japanese variety Muscat Bailey A with the rarer native cross Yama Sauvignon (Yamabudo × Cabernet Sauvignon). Muscat Bailey A supplies the wine's signature strawberry-and-candy aromatics, while Yama Sauvignon — a wild-grape hybrid otherwise more common in Nikkawa's red bottlings — lends extra structure, wild-berry depth, and a savory edge rarely found in Japanese hybrid rosés. It is one of only a handful of commercial wines built around this particular blend.
An easy, fruit-forward introduction to Japanese hybrid grapes — friendlier than a straight Muscat Bailey A red, with just enough wild-berry edge from Yama Sauvignon to keep it interesting.
Sommelier's Note
"One of the very few Japanese rosés built on a Muscat Bailey A × Yama Sauvignon blend — a distinctive, small-production expression that trades simple candied fruit for real structure and wild-berry complexity."
Food Pairings
Its bright acidity and moderate body make it versatile with pizza, pasta, and sandwiches, as well as grilled chicken (shio-yaki), tempura, and sashimi. The wild-berry note from Yama Sauvignon also lets it stand up to lightly sauced or grilled dishes better than a typical Muscat Bailey A rosé.
When to drink it
Casual gatherings, izakaya-style dinners, spring and summer outdoor drinking, aperitif before a Japanese meal.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Muscat Bailey A, Yama Sauvignon
- Style
- Rosé
- Alcohol
- 11.5%
- Price Range
- Approx. ¥2,000 (720ml)
Terroir & Winemaking
Made from Muscat Bailey A co-fermented (混醸) with Yama Sauvignon sourced from Katsunuma-area vineyards. Vinified as a rosé through gentle pressing to preserve delicate color and fresh fruit character. Bottled at 11.5% ABV.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grapes are used in Nikkawa's Muscat Bailey A Rosé?
- It is a blend of Muscat Bailey A, Japan's most widely planted red hybrid, and Yama Sauvignon, a rarer native cross of wild Yamabudo grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- What does it taste like?
- Expect bright strawberry and red-berry aromas typical of Muscat Bailey A, layered with the wilder, more structured berry and savory notes contributed by Yama Sauvignon, finishing crisp and refreshing.
- What food pairs well with it?
- It pairs naturally with Japanese dishes such as salt-grilled yakitori, tempura, and sashimi, and is versatile enough for pizza, pasta, and sandwiches as well.
- Is it sweet or dry?
- It is a fruit-forward but balanced rosé with crisp acidity — closer to off-dry than sweet, and easy to drink young.
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