About Sweet Tsuno
- Style
- White, Sweet
- Grape Varieties
- Sunny Rouge
- Price Range
- ¥2,640-3,470
- Alcohol
- 11%
Sweet Tsuno is Tsuno Wine's flagship dessert wine, a 375ml bottling made from 100% Sunny Rouge (Sanii Rūju), a seedless table grape bred in 1977 at the Akitsu branch of the Fruit Tree Experiment Station by crossing Pione with Red Pearl, and grown on roughly 13 hectares around Tsuno Town, Miyazaki under the 'Miyazaki Grape Sunny Rouge' brand. Rather than a standard late-harvest or fortification method, Tsuno Wine uses cryoextraction (氷結ぶどう搾り): grapes are frozen immediately after harvest and then pressed while still frozen, so that only the most concentrated, highest-sugar juice is drawn off, preserving the grape's natural aroma and balance without adding sugar or spirit. First released in 2018 and periodically re-released since (including a March 2023 edition), it is an ultra-sweet (極甘口) style aimed particularly at wine beginners and female drinkers, and has been featured in the book 'The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Wine' (『最強 日本ワイン 完全ガイド』). The name plays on the double meaning of 'sweet' — both the wine's dessert-level sweetness and the affectionate, caring nuance the winery wanted to express toward Tsuno itself.
Cryoextraction from a table grape rather than a classic vinifera variety is a genuinely unusual technique — Sweet Tsuno proves that Japan's table-grape heritage can produce a dessert wine every bit as luxurious as an ice wine, at a fraction of the price and in a gift-ready half bottle.
New to wine?
An easy, approachable way into sweet wine — honeyed and fruity like a dessert in a glass, with just enough citrus acidity to keep it from feeling heavy. A great gift or after-dinner treat for those who find dry wine intimidating.
Food Pairings
A classic dessert-wine pairing: enjoy with tropical fruits (orange, kiwi, pineapple), blue cheese or Camembert, dried fruit, or a butter-rich French toast topped with vanilla ice cream. Cinnamon-spiced baked apple or pear desserts are also recommended by the winery.
When to drink it
After-dinner dessert wine, gifts, and casual celebrations for those new to wine or who prefer sweeter styles.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Sunny Rouge grapes grown in Tsuno Town, Miyazaki. Harvested fruit is frozen immediately and pressed while frozen (cryoextraction) so only the most sugar-concentrated juice is collected, then fermented slowly at low temperature. No fortification or added sugar. Ultra-sweet (極甘口) style, ABV 11%, serving temperature 8-12°C, volume 375ml.
About the producer
Tsuno WinePioneering Miyazaki winery reinventing Campbell Early都農町, 宮崎県 · Founded 1996Visit the producer page →More wines from Tsuno Wine
- Ambellacy RedRed · Campbell Early · Syrah · Pinot Noir
- Ambellacy RoseRosé · Syrah · Muscat Bailey A · Pinot Noir
- Ambellacy WhiteWhite · Trebbiano · Pinot Gris · Sauvignon Blanc
- Campbell Early DryRosé · Campbell Early
- Campbell Early RoseSweet · Campbell Early
- Campblesco Red (Barrel)Sparkling · Campbell Early
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is Sweet Tsuno made from?
- It is made from 100% Sunny Rouge, a seedless table grape bred by crossing Pione and Red Pearl and grown around Tsuno Town, Miyazaki.
- How is Sweet Tsuno made so sweet without added sugar?
- Tsuno Wine uses cryoextraction: the harvested grapes are frozen immediately and pressed while still frozen, so only the most sugar-concentrated juice is extracted, similar in principle to ice wine but from a table grape.
- What does Sweet Tsuno taste like?
- It shows a bright, pink-tinged golden yellow color with honeyed apple and citrus (hyuganatsu, grapefruit) aromas, concentrated dessert-like sweetness balanced by fresh acidity and a light bitterness, and a long orange-and-quince finish.
- What food pairs well with Sweet Tsuno?
- It pairs beautifully with tropical fruit, blue cheese or Camembert, dried fruit, and rich desserts such as butter-laden French toast with ice cream.
- Why is it called 'Sweet Tsuno'?
- 'Sweet' refers to both the wine's dessert-level sweetness and the affection and care the winery wanted to express toward the town of Tsuno itself.
Want to know more about this wine?
Ask Vinami's sommelier — no intimidation, just answers.
Talk to the Sommelier