Tada Winery "Chardonnay Orange" Hokkaido, Japan 2023

FROM NIPPON NATURALS:

THE WINE: The Chardonnay vines, aged 5 to 11 years and planted on an alluvial fan, were carefully hand-harvested in early October. Immediately after harvest, any damaged or rotten grapes were meticulously removed. After gently de-stemming by hand, the grapes underwent approximately 20 days of maceration. They were then carefully pressed at low pressure using a Bucher Vaslin pneumatic press to avoid stressing the fruit. The wine was slowly matured for about 9 months in a combination of French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks before bottling. Unfiltered and with no added sulfites, this wine fully expresses the character of the vineyard and the natural strength of the grapes.

THE PRODUCER: Tada Farm grows grapes in a very harsh environment with midwinter temperatures approaching -30℃ (-22 F), without using any herbicides or chemical fertilizers. The wine is made with wild yeast. The wild yeast on the grape skin and the yeast in the air react with the sugar in the grape and convert it into alcohol. This is a high-risk winemaking method that can have a huge impact if bacteria get into the fermentation process. Wine made with wild yeast is a very distinctive wine that allows you to feel the land itself.