About this wine
Rue de Vin Chardonnay is the estate's stainless-steel-fermented, unoaked Chardonnay, made from grapes grown on Rue de Vin's own vineyards above 700m along the Chikuma River in Tomi City, Nagano. Often likened to a fine Chablis, it shows aromas of honeyed apple, white peach, and acacia blossom, with the taut, mineral-driven acidity typical of this cool-climate terroir. It is bottled as a distinct, lighter style from the estate's oak-aged "Colline d'Or" Chardonnay, emphasizing purity of fruit over oak influence.
A crisp, unoaked, Chablis-style Chardonnay — a gentle, food-friendly entry point into Japanese wine.
Sommelier's Note
"This is Japan's answer to Chablis — Rue de Vin channels the Chikuma River's minerality into a taut, oak-free Chardonnay built for the table."
Food Pairings
Its bright acidity and lack of oak make it highly food-friendly: pairs well with tempura, sashimi and other delicate white fish preparations, and cream-based pasta dishes.
When to drink it
Everyday dinners, casual gatherings, and pairing with Japanese home cooking.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ¥4,900-5,500
Terroir & Winemaking
Fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel tanks (no oak contact), preserving fresh fruit character and bright acidity. Estate-grown fruit from cool-climate slopes over 700m altitude along the Chikuma River Wine Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Rue de Vin Chardonnay taste like?
- It has a crisp, mineral-driven profile with aromas of honeyed apple, white peach, and acacia blossom, and bright, refined acidity reminiscent of Chablis.
- Is it aged in oak?
- No — it is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks, unlike the estate's oak-aged "Colline d'Or" Chardonnay, so the fruit and terroir stay front and center.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Its clean acidity makes it a natural match for tempura, sashimi, and other delicate Japanese dishes, as well as cream-based pasta.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- The Chardonnay comes from Rue de Vin's own vineyards above 700m altitude along the Chikuma River in Tomi City, Nagano — part of the Chikumagawa Wine Valley.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
トリオ '20
Trio '20
RedMerlot · Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Franc
Trio '20 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Rue de Vin, a pioneering estate winery in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture. Made entirely from estate-grown grapes on the cool, high-altitude slopes above the Chikuma River, the wine combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The 2020 growing season brought difficult weather during ripening and a reduced harvest, prompting winemaker Hideaki Koyama to lean more heavily on Cabernet Franc to round out the blend, giving this vintage a roughly 3:2:1 ratio of Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc. The result is a wine that leads with Merlot's supple red-and-black fruit, backed by Cabernet Sauvignon's structure and spice, with Cabernet Franc adding a lifted, herbal-edged freshness.
ヴァン・ミニヨン フランボワーズ
Vin Mignon Framboise
RoséMerlot
Vin Mignon Framboise is a playful flavored wine from Rue de Vin in Tomi City, Nagano. Merlot grapes sourced from Nagano and Yamagata are vinified as a rosé base, then macerated with fresh raspberries, producing a vivid ruby hue and a direct, juicy raspberry aroma that sets it apart from conventional rosé. It is a non-vintage (NV) release positioned as an accessible, everyday table wine within the casual 'Vin Mignon' (cute wine) line.