There is a winery called Kimura Cellars in the Marlborough region, New Zealand's largest wine producing region.
This winery is run by the Japanese husband and wife Kimura Shigehisa and Mieko . Since it was established in 2009, they have been committed to organic farming and small-scale production, making wines that are kind to both nature and people.
Kimura Cellars is highly regarded both domestically and internationally, and is a popular winery in Japan.
And now, Kimura Cellars ' Pinot Noir has won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2020 , one of the world's most influential wine competitions!
On December 3, 2020, Kimura also commented on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Now let's take a look at the details.
IWC Gold Medal Winner "Kimura Cellars Pinot Noir 2019"
| Winery Name | Kimura Cellars |
|---|---|
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir |
| Grape harvest year | 2019 |
| Alcohol content | 13% |
| Medals/Points | Gold/95 points |
I interviewed Kimura about this wine via Zoom. In fact, the Pinot Noir grape harvest in 2019 was much lower than usual. It was almost half of the previous year.
However, the quality of the grapes themselves was very high, with small berries and a good concentration of flavor, which he said contributed to the full flavor of the 2019 Pinot Noir.
In addition, this time 5% whole-cluster fermented wine was blended, which was analyzed to have significantly improved the quality of the tannins in the aftertaste.
A scene from the interview with Kimura-san
What is the International Wine Challenge?
The International Wine Challenge , held annually in London, England, is known as the most rigorous and influential wine (alcohol) competition in the world.
The biggest feature of this wine competition, which began in 1984 and is now in its 38th year, is that the wines are judged by blind tasting. In other words, the wines are judged solely on their merits, not on the brand, such as their place of origin or winery.
In 2007, the competition added a "SAKE (Japanese sake) category," which also became a hot topic.
▶ International Wine Challenge (IWC)
About Kimura Cellars
Image source: Kimura Cellars official website
KIMURA CELLARS is a family-run winery run by Japanese owner Shigehisa Kimura.
Kimura studied wine brewing and viticulture in New Zealand and gained experience working in cultivation and brewing at several local wineries before founding Kimura Cellars in Marlborough in 2009.
In 2018, they also began cultivating grapes in their own fields, which had been their long-cherished dream.
Based on the concepts of "wine where you can see the face of the maker" and "producers who are close to the consumer," we are committed to time-consuming organic farming methods and create wine through artisanal craftsmanship with attention to detail.
The main region is Marlborough, and the wine lineup includes Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Merlot (the only one produced in Hawke's Bay).
▶Kimura Sellers official website
Kimura has a strong spirit of adventure and takes winemaking very seriously. We'll be keeping an eye on him in the future!
