Lumiere, Sparkling orange Koshu, Japan

Wine Type: Sparkling Orange

Grape(s): Koshu

Country: Japan

Region: Yamanashi

Organic: No

Vegan: No

ABV: 10.5%

Winemaker: Shigeki Kida

Winery: Established in 1885 by Tokugi Furiya, Lumiere is a family-owned winery continuously operating for 130 years in Yamanashi prefecture which is the most famous and historical region for Japan's wine production. Since 1967, their wines have won medals in European top competitions. Lumiere is now into the 5th generation of winemakers currently with Shigeki Kida at the helm.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Yamanashi is the most spectacular vineyard region in Japan. Their main vineyards are located in the area of an alluvial fan. It provides preferable soil for wine making. The rocks of the vineyards are made of decomposed granite. Because of this property of the soil, this land has good drainage.

Their vineyards are cultivated using a grass cover crop and a no-tillage system. All of the grapes are harvested by hand. Then the grapes for the high class wines are hand-sorted and gently deposited into a destemmer. A gravity-flow system is used which can bring down the wines naturally from the fermentation tank to the aging barrels without mechanical pumps.

Winemaking: Made from the local Koshu grape with a period of carbonic maceration, this is then made in the style of a traditional-method sparkling wine with bottle fermentation and a year on lees. 

Tasting Notes: Mouthfilling yet fresh, with flavours of banana bread, ripe apricot and tropical fruit. Dry and fresh with a vibrant mousse.