Aperture Farm and Winery
Tomi, Nagano

Grapes: Kyoho 95%, Merlot 5%
Type: Red
Style: Dry, light-bodied
Colour: Pale garnet
Alcohol: 8%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: No 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 7-10°C
Production: 350 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
Aromatic notes of plum, ume, tomato and watermelon. Light in body yet showing vivid red fruit flavours like watermelon, balanced beautifully by bright acidity. A juicy red wine with a touch of umami. As it warms, subtle hints of oak emerge — a wine to enjoy chilled and watch how it evolves in the glass. Enjoyable for around three days after opening.
 
Food pairing
Caprese, Japanese-style sea bream carpaccio, chicken tender with plum and shiso, ratatouille, chicken braised in tomato sauce, pork shabu-shabu (lightly boiled pork slices), yam wun sen (Thai glass noodle salad), grilled aubergine, agedashi tofu (deep-fried tofu in broth), chirashi sushi (scattered sushi bowl), sorbet, berry tart, plum jelly

Winemaking
Estate-grown Kyoho grapes were dried in a large refrigerated room for about one month until the stems withered, reducing excess water. The whole clusters were placed in tanks for ten days of carbonic maceration to begin fermentation, then gently foot-crushed and fermented with light pigeage until the end of fermentation, before being pressed. The wine was matured for around four months in old barrels, and just before bottling, 5% Merlot was blended in.

The Merlot, grown by a grape farmer in Tomi where the winery is located, was hand de-stemmed and fermented with carbonic maceration for 20 days using only the berries. It was then crushed and fermented on skins for 15 days, followed by a short period of barrel ageing.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 68 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 1.5 g
 - Sugar: 1.5 g
Protein: 0.2 g
Salt: 0g