About Ushiku Chateau Koshu 2024
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Koshu
- Price Range
- ¥2,850
- tax included
- Alcohol
- 13%
Koshu 2024 is Ushiku Chateau's white wine expression of Japan's signature indigenous grape, brewed at the historic Meiji-era chateau in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, using Koshu grapes sourced from Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture — the variety's ancestral home. Released May 1, 2025 through a joint development between the Wine Culture Japan Heritage Council and Ushiku Chateau Co., Ltd., it is a 100% Koshu fruit wine (果実酒) made from grapes and sulfites only, with no other fruit or additive ingredients. The wine shows the crisp acidity and gentle sweetness characteristic of Koshu, with tasters describing it as notably fruity and rich for the variety. Bottled in a run of 1,800, it links Ushiku's status as the birthplace of Japanese winemaking with Koshu City's status as the birthplace of the Koshu grape.
A rare case of two 'birthplaces' meeting in one bottle — Koshu grapes from their ancestral home in Yamanashi, vinified at the birthplace of Japanese winemaking in Ibaraki. Worth seeking out for that story alone, and it drinks well too.
New to wine?
Light, crisp, and gently sweet — an easy, approachable way to try Japan's own grape variety for the first time.
Food Pairings
A natural match for delicate Japanese cuisine — sashimi, tempura, and simmered vegetable dishes — thanks to its crisp acidity and light body. Also pairs well with grilled white fish and soft, unaged cheeses.
When to drink it
A memorable souvenir from a visit to Ushiku Chateau's Important Cultural Property brick buildings, or a refreshing pour with everyday Japanese home cooking and light seafood.
Terroir & Winemaking
Classified as a fruit wine (果実酒). Made from 100% Koshu grapes grown in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and vinified at Ushiku Chateau in Ibaraki Prefecture. Ingredients: grapes (Koshu City, Yamanashi) and sulfites only. ABV 13%, 750ml bottle. Released May 1, 2025 as a joint project between the Wine Culture Japan Heritage Council and Ushiku Chateau Co., Ltd., limited to 1,800 bottles.
About the producer
Ushiku ChateauJapan's founding winery, reborn through a citizen campaign.牛久市, 茨城県 · Founded 1903Visit the producer page →More wines from Ushiku Chateau
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Ushiku Chateau's Koshu made from Ibaraki-grown grapes?
- No — the Koshu grapes are grown in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture (the grape variety's ancestral home), then shipped to Ushiku Chateau in Ibaraki Prefecture for fermentation and bottling.
- What does it taste like?
- It shows Koshu's typical crisp acidity with a gentle sweetness; tasters have described it as fruity and notably rich for the variety.
- What food pairs well with it?
- Light Japanese dishes such as sashimi, tempura, and simmered vegetables, as well as grilled white fish and soft cheeses.
- Is it a large production or a limited release?
- It was a limited release of 1,800 bottles, first sold from May 1, 2025 through Ushiku Chateau's own shop.
Want to know more about this wine?
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