Kumo no Jikan (Cloud Time)

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner (plus small amounts of other varieties)
Type: White Still
Style: Light-bodied, dry, gently textured with a slight prickle
Color: Pale gold
Alcohol: ~12%
Wild yeast: Yes
Any added sulphites: Minimal
Filtered: No
Serving temperature: 8-10°C
Please store in a cool, dark place.

Tasting notes

Part of Coco Farm’s experimental “Cocoromi Series,” Kumo no Jikan showcases Sauvignon Blanc and Sylvaner grown in Yoichi, Hokkaido — varieties rarely planted in that area. The wine shows fresh green apple and citrus aromas without an overtly grassy Sauvignon Blanc character, backed by a bright, crisp acidity, a touch of gentle prickle on the palate, and a finish with a pleasant citrus-peel bitterness.

Food pairing

Grilled white asparagus, anchovy-stuffed green olives, salmon carpaccio with dill, green papaya salad, mussels steamed in white wine, smelt fritto, brandade of cod, salt-seared pork belly, weisswurst, and Munster cheese.

Winemaking

Coco Farm began this project in 2013 with a Yoichi, Hokkaido contract grower willing to experiment with varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc and Sylvaner, that had little track record in the region. The wine’s name is drawn from a phrase in Sakutaro Hagiwara’s 1936 prose collection “Shiki” (“The Four Seasons”) — “the free time spent watching clouds.” Grapes are fermented with wild yeast, and the wine is bottled without filtration, preserving its fresh, slightly textured character.

Producer

Location