Importers of wines from Oregon & Washington State poured out a wide range of wines from sparkling, to white, to rose, to red, and also dessert wines. The international wine trade in Japan seems to be getting back to normal after March 3, 2011. Many more international wine makers and winery owners from high point wineries are visiting Japan. Suddenly more ‘meet the wine maker dinners’ are being put on for the public.
Jeff Renshaw, CEO of Orca-International, who moved to Tokyo & originally from Washington State was to first bring OR/WA wines to Japan. Great line-up, brilliant selection of famous high point wines including Charles Smith’s iconic creations.
Rie Tatemoto of DEPT importers always makes a trade tasting sparkle with her personality and top grade wines.
Jared Burns, winemaker, owner of Revelry Vintners–started the winery when he was 24, gets top marks from Robert Parker and his dad invented a new kind of wine cork, plus lots of safety stuff for technology. (oh, yes, his wines were deeply rich with lots of elegant plummy fruit, balancing acidity and soft tannins)
The Year of the Wood Horse, 2014 has made horse labels popular, and excellent wines inside. 14Hands, Hot to Trot.
Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon. Some of my favorite Gewurztraminers and Rieslings. Lots of flavor, food-friendly, yet elegant.
Firesteed! Always beautifully made, elegant, balanced and yet sauve enough to match traditional high-class traditional Japanese food.
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Wines in Style Importers, love their Argyle sparkling wines, so toasty, dry & elegant
WillaKenzie Estate, Oregon
Pomum Cellars, Washington State
Takamura-san of Nakagawa-Wines, one of the first wine women in Japan that I met years ago.
Wines in Style, pouring Argyle sparkling wines. Toasty, creamy and rich sparklers.
Mike Merriman of Merriman Wines and Bob Morus of Phelps Creek Vineyards, both of Oregon
Trying to break through the pack to get a glass of wine at Village Cellars, the godfather of international importers in Japan.
Todd Stevens, Court of the Master Sommelier man, previously of ORCA-International, breaking into his new beer importing business of Beer-Cats.
Wine News Japan 