KOSHU WINE PROJECT

THE KOSHU WINE PROJECT

Opportunities in the Wine Trade

It is clear that the most significant increase in wine consumption over the next century will take place in Asia.  As the world's largest population block develops an enormous middle class with sophisticated taste and disposable income, the taste and demand for wine will expand dramatically.  Koshu Cuvée Denis Dubourdieu is the first Japanese wine to be released on the international market and clearly represents the potential of the Asian wine industry.

Until recently, it was thought that world-class wines could only be produced in Europe.  In 1976, during the bicentennial celebration of the United States, the Academie du Vin in Paris held a tasting where French wines were compared to Californian wines. For the first time, the Californian wine industry was able to demonstrate that wines of equal or superior caliber could be produced outside of France and the Napa Valley was internationally recognized as the first world-class wine-producing region outside of Europe.

In the past two decades, countries from all around the world, such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, began producing wines that were accepted at a world-class level. Now Japan will be recognized as the first Asian country to be able to produce a world-class wine. By using an indigenous grape varietal that had not yet been introduced to the world, this delicate and unique style of wine will surely be the benchmark wine for all of Asia.