About this wine
Produced by Woody Farm & Winery at the foot of Mount Zao in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata, this Chardonnay is released as a new vintage almost every year (recent vintages include 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024) and reflects the estate's philosophy of letting the Kaminoyama terroir speak for itself, avoiding chaptalization and acid correction wherever possible. Grapes grown on the estate's own vineyards are separated and fermented individually based on ripeness and pressing pressure, then blended for a balanced, mellow profile. The wine shows a bright, lustrous pale yellow-green color with delicate aromas of La France pear, banana, and white peach, a broad and rounded acidity, and a smooth, refreshing finish. Because Chardonnay is considered a relatively neutral variety, the winery treats it as a mirror reflecting the character of the Kaminoyama terroir.
A clean, refreshing introduction to Japanese Chardonnay that is very easy to enjoy.
Sommelier's Note
"A pure expression of Kaminoyama terroir — this is the benchmark bottling for understanding what Japanese Chardonnay can be."
Food Pairings
Pairs excellently with shellfish, sauteed poultry, soft cheeses, and vegetable-forward dishes; also complements delicate Japanese fare such as white fish sashimi, tempura, and dashi-simmered vegetables.
When to drink it
Ideal for casual dinners, garden parties, or as a refreshing aperitif.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Style
- White
- Price Range
- ¥2,500-3,000
Terroir & Winemaking
Grapes are grown on the winery's own roughly 9-hectare estate in Kaminoyama City with reduced chemical inputs. Juice is separated and fermented according to grape ripeness and pressing pressure, then blended to avoid any single, overly assertive character. No chaptalization or acid correction is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Woody Farm & Winery's Chardonnay taste like?
- It offers a dry, refreshing profile with aromas of La France pear, banana, and white peach, balanced by broad, rounded acidity.
- What food pairs best with this wine?
- Shellfish, sauteed poultry, and soft cheeses pair well, as do delicate Japanese dishes such as white fish sashimi and tempura.
- Is this wine oaked?
- Portions of the blend are aged in oak, including new barrels in some vintages, though the overall style remains fresh rather than heavily wooded.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
ソーヴィニヨン・ブラン
Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteSauvignon Blanc · Petit Manseng
Grown on Woody Farm & Winery's roughly 9-hectare estate at the foot of Mt. Zao in Kaminoyama, Yamagata, this Sauvignon Blanc is blended with a small proportion (around 10%) of Petit Manseng. Winemaker Yuto Kanahara adds the Petit Manseng to counter a sometimes flat mid-palate in pure Sauvignon Blanc, lending the wine unexpected tropical depth and richness on top of its bright grapefruit and citrus core. It is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel with no new oak, and made without chaptalization or acid correction, in keeping with the estate's minimal-intervention philosophy. The 2018 vintage was awarded a bronze medal at the Japan Wine Competition 2019, and production remains small-lot (around 2,490 bottles for the 2020 vintage), bottled under DIAM10 closures.
ソーヴィニヨン・エフェメラル
Sauvignon Éphémère
WhiteSauvignon Blanc · Petit Manseng · Chardonnay
Sauvignon Éphémère is a limited cuvée from Woody Farm & Winery in Kaminoyama, Yamagata, made from a blend of roughly 87% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Petit Manseng, and 3% Chardonnay. Where the estate's standard Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged purely in stainless steel to preserve fresh, citrus-driven fruit, this cuvée is instead matured in old (non-new) oak barrels, deliberately pursuing the quieter, more contemplative side of the variety rather than its typically vivid, dynamic citrus character. The wine is built with cellaring in mind, gaining aromatic complexity and softness with time in bottle. The 2020 vintage, released around 2023, is now sold out at most retailers.
ウッディ ブリュット
Woody Brut
SparklingChardonnay
Woody Brut is the entry-level dry sparkling wine from Woody Farm & Winery, a domaine estate at the foot of Mount Zao in Kaminoyama, Yamagata. Made from estate-grown Chardonnay farmed without chaptalization or acid correction, it channels the same minimal-intervention philosophy that defines the winery's still wines into a crisp, refreshing sparkling format that showcases the cool-climate character of Kaminoyama fruit.