About this wine
NORA Blanc Fumizuki is Nora-Kura's most prized white cuvée, made exclusively from the best-ripening section of the estate's Fumizuki vineyard in Hokuto City, Hokkaido. Unlike the winery's standard Nora Blanc, this bottling is produced only in exceptional vintages when the fruit from this specific plot reaches outstanding ripeness and concentration — in lesser years it is simply not made. Hand-harvested, wild-yeast fermented, and aged in used 450L oak barrels, it is bottled without fining, filtration, or added sulfur. The result is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay of remarkable texture and purity, showing notes of golden citrus, curry leaf, fennel seed, and custard cream layered over a fine, mineral-driven backbone.
One of the most sought-after cult bottlings in Japanese natural wine — since it only appears in outstanding years, finding a bottle is itself a small event worth savoring.
Sommelier's Note
"This is the clearest expression of what Nora-Kura's Fumizuki plot can achieve in a great year — layered, textured, and unmistakably more serious than the estate's standard Blanc. Worth seeking out the moment it's released."
Food Pairings
A versatile, texture-forward white that shines with scallops, sea urchin, and white fish sashimi, as well as tempura and cream-based pasta. Its barrel-derived richness also stands up well to grilled dishes and soft washed-rind cheeses.
When to drink it
Best reserved for special celebrations, milestone dinners, or sharing with fellow natural wine enthusiasts who will appreciate its rarity.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ¥6,000-9,000 (allocation-only; rarely appears at standard retail)
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Chardonnay, hand-harvested from the top-ripening block of the Fumizuki estate vineyard (Hokuto City, Hokkaido). Farmed without chemical inputs using permaculture-inspired methods. Fermented with indigenous wild yeast and aged in used 450L oak barrels. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, with no added sulfur. Produced only in vintages judged exceptional for this plot; skipped entirely in other years.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes NORA Blanc Fumizuki different from Nora-Kura's regular Nora Blanc?
- It comes from a single, best-ripening section of the Fumizuki estate vineyard and is only produced in vintages when that plot reaches exceptional ripeness — making it a rarer, more concentrated selection than the standard Nora Blanc.
- Why is it only made in certain years?
- Nora-Kura reserves the Fumizuki designation for years when the fruit from this specific plot shows outstanding ripeness and concentration; in weaker vintages, the grapes are folded into other cuvées instead.
- What does it taste like?
- A barrel-fermented Chardonnay with notes of golden citrus, curry leaf, fennel seed, and custard cream, backed by fine-boned acidity and a pronounced mineral finish.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Try it with scallops, sea urchin, or white fish sashimi, as well as tempura and creamy pasta — its texture and acidity handle both delicate and rich dishes.
- Can it be aged?
- Yes — it drinks well on release but has the structure and acidity to develop further complexity over several years in proper cellar conditions.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
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NORA Rouge is the flagship red blend of Nora-Kura, the pioneering natural wine estate of Ken and Kazuko Sasaki in Hokuto City, Hokkaido. The blend combines Merlot grown in Oshima, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir from Yoichi, and Pinot Noir from the Sasakis' own Bungetsu vineyard, fermented entirely with indigenous yeast and bottled with no added sulfites. True to the Nora series' identity, the label deliberately omits the grape composition, inviting drinkers to taste without preconception. The result is a light-to-medium-bodied red with pure fruit, saline minerality, and a distinctive umami depth reminiscent of dashi broth, aged around seven months in neutral oak before release.
ノラ・ブラン
NORA Blanc
WhiteChardonnay
NORA Blanc is the flagship white wine of Nora-Kura, Ken and Kazuko Sasaki's pioneering natural wine estate in Hokuto City, southern Hokkaido. Made from 100% Chardonnay grown on the couple's own south-facing vineyard overlooking Hakodate Bay, the wine is fermented with indigenous wild yeast and aged in old (non-new) barrels of roughly 450 liters, without added sulfur, fining, or filtration. The result is a richly textured, mineral-driven Chardonnay with aromas of white peach, apricot, citrus, honeysuckle and a touch of white pepper and vanilla, framed by vibrant acidity. Alcohol typically ranges from around 12% to 14% depending on vintage conditions. Produced in extremely limited volume, NORA Blanc is one of the most sought-after bottles in Japanese natural wine, frequently selling out immediately and commanding high prices on the secondary market.
ノラポン・ルージュ
Norapon Rouge
RedMerlot · Yama Sauvignon · Zweigelt
Norapon Rouge is the entry-line red from Hokkaido's pioneering natural wine estate Nora-Kura, crafted by Ken and Kazuko Sasaki. Unlike the flagship Nora series drawn from the estate's own vineyard, Norapon is built from carefully selected contract-grower fruit sourced across Hokkaido, celebrating the breadth and diversity of the region's terroir. The wine follows Nora-Kura's signature minimal-intervention philosophy — wild-yeast fermentation, little to no added sulfur — and is designed to be approachable and food-friendly while still carrying the vivid acidity and umami-tinged character that defines the winery's style.