Delicious SB made by Japanese people

There are currently about 10 Japanese winemakers living in New Zealand.

Most of them name their wineries after themselves, but this "Folium" is not one of them.

The name "Folium" means "leaf" in Latin. "We wanted to bring nature, which is the most important element in winemaking, to the forefront," says Takeki Okada, a winemaker and brewer.

Okada was born in Tokyo in 1978. After graduating from Hokkaido University, he studied winemaking at the University of California, Davis, before moving to Marlborough, New Zealand in 2003.

At Marlborough, he honed his skills at Clos Henri, based in France, before launching his own brand, Folium, in 2010.

The wines that Okada makes are not the typical fruit-heavy Marlborough style.

Believing that "we cannot survive by being the same as others," we deliberately create a Sauvignon Blanc that is understated.

Through careful grape cultivation and brewing, we aim to produce wines that are concentrated and have the ability to age.

The fields are organically grown and are densely planted.

And surprisingly, they do not use irrigation, unlike most wineries in New Zealand.

It is natural that there will be a difference in the quality of the grapes and the wine between years with lots of rain and years with little rain, and Okada wants to properly express this.

Now, let's try tasting Folium's Sauvignon Blanc, which is packed with such attention to detail.

The clarity of the colour is not that different from other Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs.

But the scent is definitely different.

It has a very gentle scent with a soft hint of lemon and white flowers . Okada says, "If the fruit scent is too strong, it can be hard to pair it with food. That's why I like to keep the scent as subtle as possible."

When you put it in your mouth, you first feel a strong citrus acidity . This is followed by a plum -like fruitiness and the freshness of green herbs . The umami flavor continues firmly , and you can also feel a minerality like wet stone in the aftertaste. Overall, it has a dry taste with little sweetness .

Rather, I would say it is a high-quality wine that is deliberately made to be "ladylike" without emphasizing its New World characteristics.

Clos Henri, where he worked before going independent, is a branch of the prestigious Henri Bourgeois family in Sancerre, France. I think Folium has probably chosen this style in keeping with that tradition.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes wines from the Loire Valley in France.

This wine is calm yet flavorful.

Good pairings would include grilled salted white fish, vongole bianco, and shrimp fritters.

I think it's good to have a menu that lets you really feel the bounty of the sea, and it goes well with dishes like chicken seasoned with herbs.

About the Winery "Folium"

Folium Vineyards is an 8-hectare winery established in June 2010 in the Brancott Valley of the Marlborough region in the northeast of New Zealand's South Island.

Japanese winemaker and brewer Takeki Okada is in charge of producing Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines.

Marlborough's climate is ideal for growing fine Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir: the large temperature difference between day and night during the growing season allows the grapes to accumulate aromatic and flavour compounds whilst retaining high natural acidity.

The soil of the winery was formed by the movement of glaciers and ancient rivers during the Ice Age. The clay-rich soil of the Brancott Valley has the characteristic of moderately suppressing grape growth. This soil retains enough moisture even in dry summers, allowing the grapes to grow in balance. In addition, by planting seedlings at a higher density than other fields in the Marlborough region, we have been able to produce more concentrated and flavorful fruit.

They also place great importance on environmental considerations, and were certified by the organic farming certification organization "Biogro" in 2014. They practice organic farming methods to maintain New Zealand's clean environment.

Okada says, "The fastest way to make high-quality wine is to grow high-quality grapes." In the fields, they strictly limit yields and properly manage the leaves to adjust the amount of sunlight they receive. In the fall, they carefully hand-harvest all the fully ripe fruit.

Folium Vineyards' philosophy is based on the belief that winemaking begins in the vineyard. In order to maximize the individuality of the grapes harvested, we strive to produce wines that reflect the unique characteristics of Folium Vineyards' land by minimizing human intervention during the winemaking process.

This Japanese producer's careful approach has enabled him to take advantage of the characteristics of the Marlborough land and produce wines of unique quality and character.

About Marlborough

Marlborough is the heart of New Zealand's wine region.

Marlborough has ideal natural conditions for grape growing, such as abundant sunshine and large temperature differences throughout the day, and more than 80% of New Zealand's wine is produced there.

Among them, Sauvignon Blanc, characterized by its crisp acidity and overflowing fruitiness, is produced in overwhelming quantities and is loved worldwide for its unique character. In addition, Pinot Noir, with its rich berry fruit flavor, is also popular among red wines.

Folium Sauvignon Blanc 2023

item	Content
Winery Name	Folium
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Marlborough
kinds	white
Grape variety	Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage	2023
Alcohol content	13.5%
capacity	750ml
remarks	Screw Cap