04/19/2026
If you've been in recently, you may have noticed these two beauties appear in our Asian wine section, thanks to our friends over . Japan is a small country producing a wide variety of wines, many of which are made from hybrid grapes developed for the climate and soil of the country, which has a much more recent viticultural history than most, though some European varietals are being produced there -- these two are the latter.
The Chikumagawa Valley, a dry region with volcanic soil, soaring altitudes, fertile basins, and a concentration of vitis vinifera grapes, lies in northeastern Nagano. Here, Hase Mitsuhiro-san makes wines that "touch the heart" and have minimal impact on the environment. Domaine Hase "Hikaru Blanc" is an Alsatian-inspired blend of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Kerner, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc (and then some!) brings a crisp, fresh bright acidity and notes of tropical fruits, Japanese citrus, peach, and tart green apple to the table that is utterly mouthwatering. As it breathes and its color intensifies with air, more notes of bruised red apple develop as the acidity softens, making this a wonderful bottle to spread over two days to see the full breadth of.
In a former high school gymnasium in Miyagi Prefecture's Kawasaki, Meguro Hirotaka-san and Meguro Reina-san of treat their grapes "gently, the same way [they] treat their friends" in their vineyards in Hasekura and in their winemaking practices. Here, we're presented with their Cabernet Sauvignon, which sees some grapes inboshi (dried in the shade, similar to the Italian passimento method) and some is vinified as direct press blanc de noir. This is a lower ABV and tannin structure than we're used to in a Cab Sauv, but it's a nuanced, delicate approach with notes of dried fruit, nuts, baking spices, and a soy-like umami.
