# Grape Republic Rosato Yamagata Rosé (2023)

- **Producer:** Grape Republic Inc.
- **Colour:** rosé
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Steuben, Delaware
- **Region:** Yamagata, Japan
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €29
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 6–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, strawberry, peach, herbaceous

## About this wine

Grape Republic was founded in 2017 in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, by Kazuomi Fujimaki and Takayuki Taira, with winemaking led by Haruyuki Yano in partnership with Alex Craighead of Kindeli Wines. The estate aims to revitalize abandoned farmland, support local agricultural communities, and produce expressive zero-zero natural wines using regional Japanese hybrid grape varieties.

## Interesting facts

- Established in 2017 to rehabilitate abandoned farmland in Nanyo City through sustainable viticulture.
- Omits gibberellin treatments common in Japanese table-grape farming to preserve natural seed acidity.
- Created in mentorship with Alex Craighead of New Zealand natural wine producer Kindeli.

## Food pairing

This fresh, high-acid natural rosé pairs seamlessly with cold noodle dishes, crisp summer vegetables, and delicate seafood. Its bright acidity cuts through light oils while its subtle fruit tones harmoniously balance savory dashi and soy-based dressings.

## Wine making process

Crafted using low-intervention winemaking with zero added sulfites, yeasts, or processing aids. Grapes are grown organically without synthetic pesticides or seedless gibberellin treatments. Vinification features two distinct skin-contact batches: a co-ferment of destemmed Delaware and Steuben on skins for 11 days, and a Steuben batch macerated for 6 days using indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for 10 months in stainless steel tanks before bottling unfined and unfiltered.