Grape Republic Aromatico Yamagata Sparkling 2022

Country: Japan

Region: Yamagata

Type: Orange Pet-Nat

Grape: Delaware/Niagara

Grape Republic was founded by restaurateur and sommelier Kazuomi Fujimaki in 2015 who moved from Tokyo to the village of Shinden in Yamagata. With no previous experience in winemaking, he set three simple rules for himself: The cultivation must be organic, the wines must be made without sulfur or other additives, and they should preferably be aged in amphora. The goal was to make pure, vibrant Japanese wines using the grapes grown in Yamagata. Grape Republic owns their own vineyards and also support local growers.

Grapes are 100% from Shinden, Yamagata, where Grape Republic is based. Delaware and Niagara were skin co-fermented for 8 days, then blended with 12 hours skin contact of Delaware. Fermented in stainless steel vats. The wine was then bottled with a minimal amount of residual sugar for a light petillant effect.