middle of February···

It's almost cherry blossom season!!

You might be thinking, "Isn't this a bit premature?" but if you live in Izu, that's not the case!

That's right, Kawazu cherry blossoms.

Kawazu cherry blossoms are early-blooming cherry trees that bloom for about a month from early February to early March.

There is a town called Kawazu at the bottom of the Izu Peninsula, and every year they hold a festival called the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival .

Approximately 850 cherry trees bloom along the Kawazu River, and many street stalls are set up during the festival, so it is crowded with many tourists every year. It is the perfect place for a food-hunting date!

This introduction has been quite long, but today I would like to introduce Kyoho Rosé , a cherry blossom-colored wine that is just as beautiful as the Kawazu cherry blossoms. I hope you will be interested in this fruity wine that has a fresh fruity flavor that is different from wine grapes.

In this article, Okawa, who runs the official Nakaizu Winery online shop, introduces the wines produced at Nakaizu Winery. Please read to the end, and we hope that this article will be one of the reasons why you will pick up a product!

• 1. Izu, the birthplace of Kyoho grapes
• 2. Kyoho Rosé Tasting Notes
• 3. Food suggestions to go with Kyoho Rosé
• 4. Summary

1. Izu, the birthplace of Kyoho grapes

Kyoho, the king of grapes.

When you think of grapes, many people probably think of Nagano or Yamanashi prefectures, but the birthplace of Kyoho grapes is actually Izu!

The history of Kyoho grapes dates back to 1919.

An agricultural scientist named Oinoue Yasushi began researching grapes at the Oinoue Agricultural Research Institute in Shimoomi Village, Tagata District, Shizuoka Prefecture (now Nakaizu).

After much trial and error to create a new grape variety suited to Japan's hot, rainy, and humid climate, the Kyoho grape variety was born in 1942, 23 years after research began. (Reference: Wikipedia)

Nowadays, many Kyoho grapes are grown in Yamanashi Prefecture, which is more suitable for cultivation, but it is a source of pride to know that Izu was at the beginning of Kyoho's history.

On the way to Nakaizu Winery, along the national highway (Toshikawa, Izu City), there is a monument called "The Hometown of Kyoho Grapes." If you are visiting, be sure to look for it!

2. Kyoho Rosé Tasting Notes

Now, let's take a closer look at Kyoho Rosé. As usual, we will introduce it in three categories for tasting: appearance, aroma, and taste.

First, let's look at the appearance.

The overall color is a pale pink garnet with no shading.
It's very clear.

It has a low viscosity and an alcohol content of 11%.

Next is "fragrance."

The fruit-derived aroma that is unique to Kyoho grapes is felt most strongly here.

It also has a sweet and sour aroma reminiscent of raspberry and a touch of plum .

The plums seem more like jam than fresh.

When you swirl it, you can find a little bit of white pepper and peanuts in the back.
In terms of flowers, it also has a scent similar to that of white stock flowers .

However, the fruity aroma is overwhelming.

Kyoho grapes have more flesh than wine grapes, so they have less of a complex spicy flavor and a clearer fruity taste!

(After about 5-10 minutes of drinking, a hint of yellow peach began to emerge!)

Finally, the taste

The first thing you notice is the refreshing acidity.

We often use the words "refreshing" or "mellow" to describe the acidity of wine, but the acidity of Kyoho Rosé is definitely "refreshing"!

It is a type that retains its acidity until the very end.

The sweetness is also quite strong . The taste is dominated by the fruity flavor.
But it's not too pushy, which is a good thing.

It's not overly sweet, and the acidity is well balanced.

The aftertaste is short at 6 seconds.

3. Food suggestions to go with Kyoho Rosé

Kyoho Rosé is a sweet wine, but its greatest appeal is its firm, refreshing acidity and subtle sweetness. I think it also works well as a wine to drink with meals!

The first thing that comes to mind is " bouillabaisse with lots of tomatoes."

The key is "lots of tomatoes" ; the refreshing acidity of Kyoho Rosé and the acidity of the tomatoes complement each other, allowing you to enjoy the umami of the other ingredients even more.

I think bouillabaisse tastes better with ingredients that have a strong umami flavor, such as mussels or shrimp, rather than with white fish.

Another dish is " yakitori with sauce ." (The thigh meat is recommended!)

When you eat yakitori with sauce, you want to add some shichimi pepper, right?

Did you know that wine can be used as a substitute for shichimi (spice)?

The idea is that they bring out each other's sweetness and flavor, while the refreshing acidity of the wine cleanses the sweetness and adds a different aroma!

I also think " Peony hotpot " would go well with it!

I wondered if a simple sauteed pork would go well with it, but I thought that a lighter pork (wild boar) would be a better match.

The clean sweetness of the fat that is unique to boar meat and the texture of the meat seem to match perfectly!

4. Summary

If I had to describe this Kyoho Rosé in one word...

" It's early April, and you're feeling a little cold and needing to put on a jacket, so you step outside and this wine is like the sunlight shining through ."

is!!!

If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be " a relaxing wine " (laughs).

Perhaps it's the beautiful rose color, elegant sweetness, and refreshing acidity that make it so.

I feel a sense of relief when I drink it.

In the coming season, you can enjoy it chilled and gulp it down on a picnic, or pair it with delicate dishes! This is a wine that will soothe you in a variety of situations.

Why not try putting one in your pocket and going out?

I would be happy if many people try it and leave a review with their impressions (^^)/
See you next time!