Green Songs Late Harvest Riesling (500ml) 2019

A sweet wine crafted by Japanese winemaker Kohei Koyama. It has a low ABV, a refreshing mouthfeel, and is characterized by a sweetness reminiscent of syruped fruit. It remains enjoyable even after being open for some time.

It pairs well with all kinds of desserts. Enjoy a rich, delicious experience by combining sweets with this dessert wine. It also pairs wonderfully with blue cheese!

A Very Well-Balanced Sweet White

"Late Harvest" refers to sweet wine made from grapes that were left on the vine as long as possible, allowing moisture to evaporate and concentrating their sweetness and flavor. In the winemaking process, fermentation is stopped while sugar remains to create a sweet finish.

Riesling is a variety that pairs exceptionally well with this late-harvest style, and "Late Harvest Riesling" is produced in various regions around the world.

The first impression on the nose is "Kogane-to" (golden sugar candy), a nostalgic scent from the past, followed by honey.

There are also fruity nuances that suggest the acidity of green apples.

On the palate, a mellow acidity and gentle sweetness spread throughout the mouth. While it is a sweet wine with high residual sugar, the finish is extremely refreshing, with no unpleasant bitterness.

The green apple nuance derived from the Riesling acts as the centerpiece of the flavor profile, intertwined with a syrupy, honey-like richness.

Because the alcohol content is low, it is very easy to drink, and its juiciness makes it immediately appealing even to those who aren't used to wine or alcohol.

At my wine bar, Bokumo, it is a very popular "nightcap" wine, and I sincerely think, "Kohei-san, thank you for making this!" It is the perfect wine to pair with dessert.

Recommended Pairings

Vanilla Ice Cream

This sweet wine goes well with all kinds of desserts.

While it pairs with cakes and chocolate, I especially recommend it with vanilla ice cream. The sweetness of the ice cream and the sweetness of the wine make for an excellent pairing.

Blue Cheese

If you aren't a big fan of sweets, I recommend blue cheese. Its syrupy, honey-like flavor pairs brilliantly with the salty tang of blue cheese.

About the "Green Songs" Winery

"Green Songs" is a winery run by Japanese winemaker Kohei Koyama.

After a successful career in the business world in Tokyo and London, Kohei moved to NZ in 2011 to pursue winemaking.

He studied viticulture and enology at Lincoln University, graduating at the top of his class—the first Japanese student to do so. He then gained practical winemaking experience in NZ and California before partnering with the Atamai Village in the Nelson region in 2014 to establish his own winery.

Atamai Village is a community where residents share the goal of living with the lowest possible impact on the global environment, jointly operating orchards and farms.

Kohei also serves as the viticulturist and winemaker for "URLAR," a winery located in Gladstone in the Wairarapa region. URLAR is owned by Yoichiro Nishi, the 8th-generation head of Nishi Shuzo in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Currently, Kohei focuses his activities in Gladstone, further expanding the Green Songs lineup and broadening his winemaking horizons. We look forward to seeing what he does next.

About the Wairarapa Region

"Wairarapa" is located in the southeast of NZ's North Island. It is a popular resort area, partly due to its accessibility, being only about an hour's drive from the capital, Wellington.

Martinborough, a sub-region within this area, has climate and soil conditions very similar to the Burgundy region of France and is known as one of the world's top-class Pinot Noir production areas.

Green Songs Late Harvest Riesling 2019

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