GRAPE SHIP
Kurashiki, Okayama

Grapes: Muscat of Alexandria
Type: Semi-sparkling
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Pale yellow
Alcohol: 8.5%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: No
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 5-8°C
Production: 1,462 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
A rich, fresh aroma of lemon, green apple and herbs. Also sweet notes of Muscat and  quince. The clean acidity and slight fizz make the wine refreshing to drink.

Food pairing
Karaage, Kushi-katsu, grilled salted fish, sweet and sour pork, fried horse mackerel marinated in spicy vinegar sauce

Winemaking
Muscat of Alexandria grapes are grown organically in the company's own vineyard in Funaho, Kurashiki. The vineyard is on a south-facing slope with well-drained sandy loam soil. The grapes grown in the vineyard were pressed in whole bunches in a basket press. After fermentation in small oak barrels, the juice was added and bottled. Second fermentation took place in the bottle, trapping the carbonation produced by the fermentation. No fining agent used, no sulphites added.

2023 was a year in which the harvest was lower than in 2022 due to a longer rainy season, which resulted in more diseased grapes. The overall yield was reduced by removing diseased grapes during the growing season, but this resulted in a greater concentration of each individual grape. Furthermore, the weather was favourable in early autumn, resulting in a good year. This wine will be released in the future as their challenge wine, with a different flavour every year. They want to spread the potential of Muscat of Alexandria through wine. They are making the wine with this in mind.

The winemaker, Kazunori Matsui, named it after a carbonated drink he used to drink as a child, called ‘mello yello’. The soda drink, which had a striking citrus flavour, has left such a lasting impression on him that even as an adult he can't forget it. The name of the wine ‘mellow’ was chosen in the hope that, like that carbonated drink, it would make people remember ‘I want to drink that wine again’. The label was designed by Art Space Aburakame. The label, which depicts Kazunori’s daughter, has the meaning of ‘watching over’. With the scope in her hand, she is watching over various scenes, including the vineyards, the winemaking process and the people enjoying drinking the wine. Are a lot of people feeling ‘mellow’, as the name suggests? She expresses how she is watching over the scopes to see if people are having a pleasant time, relaxing and being happy.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 73 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 2.0 g
 - Sugar: 2.0 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Salt: 0g