About Wa Merlot Rosé
- Style
- Rosé
- Grape Varieties
- Merlot
- Price Range
- ¥3,850
- 720ml, tax included
- Alcohol
- 11%
Wa Merlot Rosé, subtitled 'Kannagara' (惟神), is Wakayama Yuasa Winery's first serious rosé — a distinct sibling to the winery's flagship red 'Wa Merlot,' made from the same 100% Wakayama-grown Merlot but vinified as a bright cherry-pink rosé. Fermented entirely with indigenous wild yeast and bottled unheated and unfiltered, it aims for a genuinely food-worthy dry rosé rather than a simply pretty pink wine, with floral rose and hibiscus notes over fresh strawberry, raspberry, and cherry fruit, balanced acidity, and a savory, umami-rich depth from the natural fermentation. Production is limited to roughly 700 bottles for the 2022 vintage.
Wakayama Yuasa Winery's debut rosé proves Merlot doesn't need to be red to show its worth — wild-yeast fermentation gives this pink wine a savory backbone that most rosés simply don't have.
New to wine?
A friendly, food-flexible rosé with real depth — great first step for those who think rosé is 'just something pink and sweet.'
Food Pairings
A rare all-rounder: pairs with Japanese dishes like sashimi (tuna, bonito), teriyaki chicken, braised pork belly (kakuni), and other soy-mirin glazed dishes, as well as Chinese and pan-Asian food — sweet-and-sour pork, ebi chili, spring rolls, dim sum, Korean yangnyeom chicken, and Thai pad thai. Also delightful with melon and prosciutto, or berry-based desserts as an after-dinner pour.
When to drink it
Celebrating a special occasion, a dinner with friends who love wine, or any meal spanning Japanese and Chinese/pan-Asian dishes.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Merlot grown in Wakayama Prefecture, 2022 vintage. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous wild yeast (no cultured yeast), bottled unheated and unfiltered with only sulfites added as a preservative. Light-bodied, dry, bright cherry-pink in color. Limited production of roughly 700 bottles. Best served chilled at 8–10°C; decanting not necessary.
About the producer
Wakayama Yuasa WineryWine born of Yuasa's 750-year soy sauce fermentation heritage湯浅町, 和歌山県 · Founded 2019Visit the producer page →More wines from Wakayama Yuasa Winery
- TOA200 Hokuto no ShizukuRed · Hokuto no Shizuku
- TOA200 Kaze AkaRed · Cabernet Sauvignon · Hokuto no Shizuku · Marselan
- TOA200 Kaze ShiroWhite · Chardonnay
- TOA200 Sora Aka 2022Red · Hokuto no Shizuku · Cabernet Sauvignon
- TOA200 Sora ShiroWhite · Chardonnay
- TOA200 Umi AkaRed · Marselan · Petit Verdot
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Wa Merlot Rosé the same wine as the red Wa Merlot?
- No. Both use 100% Wakayama-grown Merlot from the same winery, but Wa Merlot Rosé is vinified separately as a rosé (bright cherry-pink, light-bodied), while Wa Merlot is a full red wine — they are distinct, separately bottled cuvées.
- What does 'Kannagara' (惟神) in the wine's name mean?
- Kannagara (惟神) means 'in accordance with the will of the kami/gods' — expressing reverence for nature and a belief that listening carefully to the grapes and the unseen forces of wild-yeast fermentation produces the best wine.
- What does Wa Merlot Rosé taste like?
- It opens with floral aromas of rose and hibiscus layered with fresh strawberry, raspberry, and cherry, followed by a light-bodied palate with balanced acidity and a savory, umami-rich complexity from natural wild-yeast fermentation.
- What food pairs well with this rosé?
- It pairs unusually broadly — from Japanese dishes like sashimi and teriyaki to Chinese and pan-Asian dishes like sweet-and-sour pork, ebi chili, and dim sum, thanks to its balance of acidity, fruit, and umami depth.
- Is this wine easy to find, and how should it be served?
- It's a limited release of roughly 700 bottles for the 2022 vintage, so stock is limited. Serve well chilled at 8–10°C; decanting is not necessary as its fresh, lively character is the main appeal.
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