What grape is Harmo Noir (Almonoir) made from?

It is a single-varietal wine made 100% from Harmo Noir, a black grape cultivar bred by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Zweigelt at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station and registered in 2009.

What does Yoichi Winery's Harmo Noir taste like?

It shows a deep, intense color with vivid red-fruit character, firm acidity, and well-integrated tannins in a medium-bodied style.

What food pairs well with this wine?

The winery recommends spicy dishes such as arrabbiata pasta or mapo eggplant, where the wine's acidity and tannin balance the heat; grilled meats and yakitori also work well.

Is Harmo Noir a common grape variety?

No — it is a Japan-bred cultivar grown almost exclusively in Japan, mainly in Hokkaido and Yamanashi, making this a distinctive way to try a variety unavailable elsewhere.

CuvéeYoichiRed

Harmo Noir

アルモノワール

Yoichi Winery

About Harmo Noir

Style: Red
Grape Varieties: Harmo Noir
Price Range: ¥3,190; tax incl., 720ml
Alcohol: 12%

A single-varietal red made from Harmo Noir, a black grape bred in 1988 and registered in 2009 by the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station as a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zweigelt. Grown in Yoichi's cool maritime climate, Yoichi Winery's rendition shows a deep, intense color with vivid red-berry fruit, firm acidity, and well-knit tannins in a medium-bodied frame — a distinctly Hokkaido take on a distinctly Japanese grape variety.

Sommelier's Note

Harmo Noir exists almost nowhere outside Japan, and Yoichi Winery's cool-climate rendition is a compact, honest showcase of what this Cabernet Sauvignon x Zweigelt cross can do — deep color and structure without heaviness.

New to wine?

A great way to try a grape variety that exists nowhere outside Japan — medium-bodied and food-friendly rather than heavy or tannic.

Food Pairings

The producer itself recommends pairing with spicy dishes — think arrabbiata pasta or mapo eggplant (mābō nasu) — where the wine's acidity and tannin cut through chili heat and richness. Also good with grilled or braised red meats and yakitori.

When to drink it

Casual dinners with spicy or grilled dishes; a distinctive gift showcasing a Japan-only grape variety.

Terroir & Winemaking

Harmo Noir is a wine-grape cultivar bred by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon and Zweigelt at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station (crossed 1988, registered 2009). It is cold-hardy and well suited to cultivation north of Yamanashi, including Hokkaido, and is prized for its deep color and tannin structure. Yoichi Winery uses 100% Yoichi-grown Harmo Noir grapes.

About the producer

Yoichi WinerySapporo sake maker's pioneering Yoichi winery since 1974, with gallery, café and restaurant.余市町, 北海道 · Founded 1974Visit the producer page →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What grape is Harmo Noir (Almonoir) made from?: It is a single-varietal wine made 100% from Harmo Noir, a black grape cultivar bred by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Zweigelt at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station and registered in 2009.
What does Yoichi Winery's Harmo Noir taste like?: It shows a deep, intense color with vivid red-fruit character, firm acidity, and well-integrated tannins in a medium-bodied style.
What food pairs well with this wine?: The winery recommends spicy dishes such as arrabbiata pasta or mapo eggplant, where the wine's acidity and tannin balance the heat; grilled meats and yakitori also work well.
Is Harmo Noir a common grape variety?: No — it is a Japan-bred cultivar grown almost exclusively in Japan, mainly in Hokkaido and Yamanashi, making this a distinctive way to try a variety unavailable elsewhere.

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