It's the season for cherry blossoms again this year! When the cherry blossoms start to bloom, you can really feel the arrival of spring. And speaking of cherry blossoms, one thing that many people look forward to is "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing) .
The main attraction of a cherry blossom viewing is of course the cherry blossoms, but to liven up the viewing experience, it's also important to prepare some delicious food and alcohol! The standard drinks for cherry blossom viewing are beer, sake, and canned chuhai, but why not try wine for a change?
Cherry blossom viewing is a fun place where people gather. If you bring wine among the various alcoholic drinks, the atmosphere will be very lively. If you take it a step further and bring your favorite wine, it will be even more exciting.
Compared to beer and other drinks, you might think that choosing and preparing wine to drink outside is a bit more difficult, but in fact, by just keeping in mind a few points, you can easily enjoy wine outside as well.
In this article, we will tell you how to choose the perfect wine for cherry blossom viewing, recommended wines, snacks, preparations, etc. The wines introduced in this article are all New Zealand wines that are the favorite of Iwasu, the sommelier who supervises this site.
NZ wines tend to have a strong fruit flavor. If you drink them outside, the natural scenery and the delicious fruit flavors will combine and make the wine taste even better!
Let's start by looking at how to choose wine.
How to choose wine to bring to a cherry blossom viewing party
It can be hard to decide what kind of wine to bring to a cherry blossom viewing party. But as a first rule of thumb, it's a good idea to choose an easy-to-understand, fruity, and vibrant wine that makes you think, "It's delicious!" after just one sip.
Normally, wine is a drink that you want to enjoy slowly, taking in the aroma and flavor, but when drinking it outside, there's no need to think about it so complicatedly.
The main attraction of a cherry blossom viewing party is the cherry blossoms and the people who gather there, so think of wine as a way to make the occasion more enjoyable, and choose a wine that gives off a bright impression. For wines to drink outside, we recommend wines in a casual price range rather than high-end wines, and wines with convenient screw caps .
You can buy some pretty tasty New Zealand wines in the 2,000 to 3,000 yen price range! And most of them have screw caps that you can open by hand. If you have any left over, you can reseal it and take it home, which is very convenient.
Many New Zealand wines, especially the main variety Sauvignon Blanc, have a strong fruit flavor, so even those who are new to wine will likely find them delicious after just one sip.
Now, let me introduce some specific wines that I recommend.
Rose wine, perfect for cherry blossom viewing
Rosé wine has recently become a standard drink at cherry blossom viewing parties in Japan. Drinking pink rosé under the cherry blossoms is visually stunning. Be sure to bring clear glasses with you and enjoy the beautiful color to the fullest.
Rosé can be paired with a wide range of foods, so it's useful to have a bottle on hand for a cherry blossom viewing party with a large group of people. Some people mistakenly think that most rosés are "sweet," but there are also many dry rosés, so you need to be a little careful.
If you have time, try tasting the wines you are considering beforehand to see if they are sweet or dry. Then, on the day, it's best to choose the wine that you feel is best suited to cherry blossom viewing in terms of color, aroma, and flavor.
Graham Norton Pink Design Rosé 2021
| Winery Name | Invivo |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,530 yen (tax included) |
This wine has a vivid salmon pink color, a gorgeous strawberry aroma, and a light mouthfeel. The slightly bitter nuance at the finish is pleasant, making it a very well-balanced dry rosé wine. It's easy to drink, and before you know it, you might have finished the whole bottle!
Osawa Wines Flying Sheep Rose 2015
| Winery Name | Osawa Wines |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Sangiovese |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Suggested retail price | 3,080 yen (tax included) |
This rosé wine, made by Osawa Wines, owned by Japanese owner Taizo Osawa, uses Sangiovese, a rare variety in New Zealand. It has a fresh berry aroma, and the taste has a clear hint of strawberry and dried herbs. It has a slight sweetness, and the bitter taste that lingers after drinking stimulates your appetite.
White wine that tastes great when chilled
Many white wines taste great at around 7 to 9 degrees Celsius. In particular, New Zealand's fruity white wines will taste better when the temperature is not too high, as the crisp acidity and rich fruitiness will be better balanced.
However, during cherry blossom viewing season in Japan, it is still often chilly outside, so you don't need to worry too much about the requirement that white wine must be kept well chilled when you carry it around.
For example, if the temperature is 10°C, wine that has been chilled in your refrigerator at home will be perfectly drinkable even if you carry it around without a cooler.
If the temperature drops below 5℃, the aroma will not be as enjoyable, so be careful not to chill it too much. It is a good idea to have a portable cooler for daytime drinking on warm, sunny days, but it is often unnecessary for night cherry blossom viewing.
Invivo x Sarah Jessica Parker Sauvignon Blanc 2022
| Winery Name | Invivo |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,860 yen (tax included) |
This wine has a stylish label, was designed by Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker, and has a very fruity taste. It's full of elements to liven up a party! The richness of passion fruit is sure to enhance the outdoor mood.
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2022
| Winery Name | Villa Maria |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,200 yen (tax included) |
Reasonably priced and delicious. This is the great thing about Villa Maria. The citrus scent of grapefruit and the scent of freshly cut grass remind me of nature. It's perfect for a clear, sunny day, so it's a great bottle to have on hand for outdoor use!
Convenient "red wine" that can be enjoyed at room temperature
If you are going to enjoy cherry blossom viewing during the day, it would be good to have a light red wine that will lift your spirits. Among such light red wines, we recommend Pinot Noir.
If you are preparing meat dishes for a night cherry blossom scene, a full-bodied red wine such as a Bordeaux blend would be good.
Dashwood Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020
| Winery Name | Dashwood |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,530 yen (tax included) |
Pinot Noir may have a strong image of being "high-class" and "formal," but this wine is "reasonable" and "casual." And what's great is that it's "really delicious!" It features a gentle berry flavor and goes well with a wide range of snacks.
Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec 2020
| Winery Name | Villa Maria |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | 49% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec 6% |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,200 yen (tax included) |
Villa Maria is known for its high cost performance. This Bordeaux-style red wine is no exception, being very reasonably priced and of excellent taste. This wine will taste even better when paired with yakitori with sauce, beef stew, and rich cheese.
Sparkling wine to liven up the party mood
Sparkling wine is visually gorgeous and goes well with any meal or snack , helping to liven up the party mood!
However, sparkling wine requires some care when transporting and handling. If it is subjected to vibrations when being carried or left in a warm place for too long, the internal pressure may increase and cause it to boil over, so handle it with care.
To enjoy sparkling wine to the fullest, it is important that it is well chilled. It is a good idea to keep it in a wine cooler or other cooling container or in a cooler box until just before drinking.
All of the recommended New Zealand sparkling wines we introduce are cork-stoppered, not screw-capped.
Although it is not as casual as a screw cap, it is made using the Champagne method, so the beautiful bubbles and complex flavor will elegantly liven up your cherry blossom viewing. It is especially recommended for those who think "When it comes to drinking outside, sparkling wine is the best."
Mimi Pink Methode Traditionel NV
| Winery Name | Wine Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | 75% Pinot Noir, 13% Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 12% |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | Non-Vintage |
| Suggested retail price | 3,080 yen (tax included) |
First of all, this wine looks very cute. The label has a pop illustration, and the color is beautiful pink. It will surely enhance the cherry blossom viewing mood. The taste is full of fruity flavors of strawberries and green apples!
Mansfield & Marche Methode Traditionelle NV
| Winery Name | Wine Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | 51% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 10% |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | Non-Vintage |
| Suggested retail price | 2,915 yen (tax included) |
Compared to the previous Mimi, this one has a more chic look. The flavor is dominated by citrus fruits, and goes well with appetizers, fried foods, and meat dishes. It is bottle-fermented like champagne, so the bubbles are very fine.
Wine-friendly snacks that you can buy at convenience stores and supermarkets
Some people prepare food and snacks at home before taking them to a cherry blossom viewing party, but today we will introduce some snacks that go well with wine and are easily available at convenience stores and supermarkets . Since it is a cherry blossom viewing party, we recommend snacks that can be easily eaten with one hand and that do not produce much waste.
Raw ham
Prosciutto is a classic wine snack that goes well with any type of wine, be it red, white or sparkling.
olive
Salty olives are a perfect pairing with white or sparkling wine.
cheese
There are many types, but the one I would especially recommend is a white mold cheese such as Camembert.
Nuts
Nuts also go surprisingly well with wine. I recommend mixed nuts that contain a variety of nuts.
chocolate
Among chocolates, milk chocolate with orange peel goes well with any wine, including sparkling wine.
Cheese snacks
Many cheese snacks go well with wine, so it's useful to have some on hand.
Snacks you should avoid if possible
On the other hand, we will also introduce snacks that do not go well with wine.
Dried scallops, dried squid
It's a popular snack to go with beer, but it's not recommended to combine it with wine as it accentuates the fishy smell.
Fish eggs (herring roe, salmon roe)
A typical example of a food that does not go well with wine is fish roe. I don't think many people buy herring roe from a convenience store, but you might need to be a little careful with salmon roe onigiri.
Something with a strong spicy taste
Foods that are too spicy will mask the flavor and fruitiness of the wine, so avoid foods like kimchi, spicy curries, and snacks.
Useful wine accessories for cherry blossom viewing
Finally, we will introduce some useful wine accessories that will come in handy during cherry blossom viewing or other outdoor activities.
Wine Glasses
Wine is a drink that can be enjoyed for its appearance and aroma. There is no need to be formal when drinking at a cherry blossom viewing party, but it is difficult to fully enjoy the color and aroma of wine in a paper cup. If you are going to the trouble of drinking wine, prepare a wine glass. Unbreakable wine glasses are popular for outdoor use.
I think it will be very convenient to have these unbreakable glasses when the COVID-19 pandemic ends and we have more opportunities to drink outside. If you don't have any glasses for drinking outside, I recommend getting some now.
A slightly larger glass will allow you to enjoy the aroma better, so if you plan to continue drinking wine outside, it's a good idea to choose a glass with size in mind.
Recommended wine glasses are explained in detail in the article on this site titled " How to casually enjoy wine while camping, as taught by a sommelier! ", so please check it out.
Wine Cooler
A wine cooler is a convenient item to have when drinking wine outside. Iwasu recommends the Vacu-Van brand wine cooler with cooling material.
This is a cylindrical container that you can chill in the freezer before using. As the name suggests, if you put in room temperature wine, it will cool down to 12-6°C in just 5 minutes.
Iwasu's favorite vacuum van
▶ Amazon｜VacuVan Rapid Ice Wine Cooler
Stain removal
When drinking wine outside, it's good to have a stain remover. When drinking wine outside, such as at a cherry blossom viewing party, the glass often falls over due to the wind or your hand. If dark-colored wine such as red wine stains your clothes, it can ruin the fun of cherry blossom viewing, so it's a good idea to have a stain remover ready in advance.
If someone has dirty clothes and is having trouble, you can quickly hand them a stain remover and they will think you are thoughtful!
summary
Even though the cherry blossoms are in bloom, the temperature is still low and there are some chilly days in late March and early April. You'll want to prepare some cold weather gear such as scarves, stoles, and hand warmers, but for wine lovers, the best way to protect yourself from the cold may be to have some good wine ready. Even in the cold, a good glass of wine will keep you warm in body and soul.
The perfect wine for such a situation is one that is full of fruit and allows you to directly experience the bounty of nature. New Zealand is a treasure trove of wines that are full of fruit flavor.
Adding a glass of New Zealand wine to your cherry blossom viewing experience will surely help you appreciate the beauty of nature through both your eyes and your taste buds.
