kifutato wines
Hara Village, Nagano

Grapes: Merlot 67%, Pinot Noir 33%
Type: Red
Style: Dry, medium-bodied
Colour: Medium ruby
Alcohol: 12.0%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: 35 ppm 
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 16°C-
Production: 861 bottles
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes
A red wine with calm fruit character and layered depth. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry, and strawberry are accompanied by notes of clove, tree bark, and ripe fruit. Built around firm acidity, the palate combines concentrated dark fruit, gentle tannins, and a subtle bitterness that adds dimension and structure. The finish is long, smooth, and quietly focused. Already well-balanced in its current state, the wine also shows strong potential for further development with age. It can be enjoyed over 4–5 days after opening.

Food pairing
Roasted red cabbage, braised lentils with bacon, maitake fritters, seared mackerel, chicken tsukune with sanshō pepper, kinpira burdock root, miso dengaku, duck breast with cherry sauce, roast lamb with rosemary, mushroom and thyme tart, roasted celeriac, warm lentil salad, chicken liver mousse, tagliatelle bolognese.

Winemaking
This is the first estate-made vintage from Kifutato Wines, produced from grapes grown in Hara Village, Nagano, at an altitude of around 1005 meters. The 2024 growing season saw warm days and cool nights, with relatively low rainfall, allowing the grapes to ripen steadily while retaining freshness.

Merlot and Pinot Noir were hand-destemmed and fermented separately with indigenous yeasts. Merlot underwent 27 days of maceration before pressing, while Pinot Noir was macerated for 15 days. Both were aged for 10 months in neutral oak barrels before being blended.

Sulphites were added only to the Pinot Noir (20 ppm before storage), and after blending, a further 15 ppm was added prior to bottling.

The name “Good morning Gerald” evokes a wine that gently accompanies the body, flowing naturally into the night until morning arrives.

Nutrition Facts per 100ml
Energy: 72 kcal
Fat: 0 g
 - Saturates: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 1.0 g
 - Sugar: 1.0 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Salt: 0g