Grace Wine

Grace Wine is a winery in Koshu, Japan, whose official site states it is marking its 100th anniversary and expresses the aim of expressing the beauty of Japan in wine. Its history page records that the family business was founded in 1923 in Katsunuma by first-generation Chotaro Misawa with the release of 'Chotaro-brand wine', that the GRACE brand was born when third-generation Kazuo Misawa established Chuo Budoshu Co., Ltd. in 1953, and that the first GRACE wine, 'GRACE 1957', was released in 1957. The winery produces Koshu wines and has received international recognition, including a gold medal and regional trophy at the 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards for 'Cuvee Misawa Akeno Koshu 2013'.

According to the official history page, the family business was founded in 1923 in Katsunuma by first-generation Chotaro Misawa, who released 'Chotaro-brand wine'. In 1953, third-generation Kazuo Misawa established Chuo Budoshu Co., Ltd., building the current foundation, and the wine brand 'GRACE' was born. In 1957 the first GRACE wine, 'GRACE 1957', was released. In 1961 one of the company's products was introduced in writer Yamamoto Shugoro's essay collection as a fine domestic find (today's fortified wine 'Shugoro no Vin'). In 1980 a full-scale aging cellar (200 tsubo) was completed. In 1983 the company produced the first wine under Japan's first appellation-certified wine (Katsunuma appellation-certified wine). In 1987 twelve young wineries in Katsunuma formed the Katsunuma Winery Club. In 1989 fourth-generation Shigekazu Misawa became president and the flagship wine 'Cuvee Misawa' was born. In 1992 experimental trellised (kaki) cultivation of Koshu began, and in 1996 a company-managed vineyard opened in the Torii-bira district of Katsunuma. In 1998 'Koshu Barrel-aged 1997' won the best domestic white wine trophy at the first Japan International Wine Challenge. In 2000 'Grace Koshu' was introduced in the UK's Financial Times as a wine with Japanese originality and in 'World Atlas of Wine' (5th ed.) as a representative Japanese wine. In 2002 the company-managed Misawa Farm (8.6 ha) opened in Akeno, Yamanashi. In 2004 Robert Parker Jr. visited and tasted Koshu wine, and Koshu was vinified under the guidance of Professor Dubourdieu of the University of Bordeaux. In 2008 Ayana Misawa became viticulture and winemaking manager. In 2009 fifteen Yamanashi wineries established 'Koshu of Japan', chaired by fourth-generation owner Shigekazu Misawa, and full-scale trellised Koshu cultivation began. In 2010 Koshu was registered as a variety with the O.I.V. and exports to the UK began. In 2013 'Grido Koshu 2012' won Asia's first gold medal and regional trophy at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. In 2014 'Cuvee Misawa Akeno Koshu 2013' won Japan wine's first gold medal and regional trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and over the following six years Grace Wine's Koshu won gold medals. In 2015 the collaboration wine 'La Rencontre 2012' with Thibaut Despagne was born, and a wine cave suited to long aging was completed at Misawa Farm. In 2016 'Grace Extra Brut' won Asia's first platinum and best-in-Asia award for a sparkling wine at the Decanter World Wine Awards. In 2017 'Kayagatake Koshu' was selected by the UK's Guardian as a post-Brexit wine, and 'Grace Koshu Private Reserve 2016' appeared on the cover of the UK wine magazine Decanter. In 2018 the book 'Waking miracles with Japanese wine: until Yamanashi's Koshu grape grasped the world's summit' was published.

Expressing the beauty of Japan through wine, based on Japanese terroir and craftsmanship.

• Grace Koshu

• Cuvee Misawa

• Grace Extra Brut

• Shugoro no Vin (fortified wine)

1. 1トップページ - GRACE WINEgrace-wine.com
2. 2HISTORY - GRACE WINEgrace-wine.com
3. 3Grace Winewikidata.org