Sunshine in a glass: A Closer Look at Japan's Orange Wine Movement

In my glass today:

Coco Farm & Winery, Koshu F.O.S, 2021

92% Koshu, 8% Petit Manseng

11.0% ABV

Made in Tochigi, with grapes from Yamanashi, Yamagata, Nagano and Gunma.

This wine feels really thoughtfully made — it’s got a nice, smooth texture and all the signs of a clean, easy-drinking orange wine. Nothing too wild or funky, so it’s perfect for anyone looking to try something different without the scary stuff.

Koshu, the main grape here, is kind of like Chardonnay — pretty neutral and gentle on its own. But the skin contact brings with it extra character, making it stand out from your typical Yamanashi Koshu.

What’s cool is there’s a bit of Petit Manseng mixed in, and that really brings some sunny, ripe vibes. This makes the wine richer and deeper in color than most orange Koshu wines out there.

It definitely feels like a food-friendly wine and honestly, I think it would be amazing paired with some spicy Thai Som Tam for a spicy-ass pairing.

---

In May, I hosted an event called “Orange is the New White”, showcasing skin-contact wines from all over Japan.

Even for me, it was a real eye-opener — I’ve tasted plenty of Japanese orange wines before, but never this many at once.

Orange wines in Japan are made pretty much the same way as anywhere else: by letting the grape skins hang out with the juice longer, turning what would normally be a white wine into beautiful shades of amber.

What’s special about Japan, though, is the surprising variety of grapes and styles being created — especially since their orange wine scene is still pretty new.

One standout is Azucca e Azucco’s "Calico", 2021. It’s got some skin contact going on, but interestingly, 60% of the blend comes from both white and black grapes with different levels of skin time — think of it like an orange rosé.

Another cool style gaining ground is Blanc de Noir made from botrytized Pinot Noir grapes. This style was popularized by the cult-favorite Domaine Takahiko and is also crafted by wineries like Domaine Yui, Lan Seqqua, Mongaku Valley, and Domaine Ichi in Yoichi.

While not always orange wines in the traditional sense, since they feature varying amounts of skin contact, these wines still shine with that undeniable amber glow and offer rich, honeyed apricot flavors.

These are just a few examples of the exciting orange wines coming out of Japan recently, and the scene is only growing.

The sun is rising for Japan’s orange wine movement — and it’s getting brighter every day.