Mercian Releases "Nihon no Awa Shinshu 2026," "Château Mercian Yamanashi Koshu New Vintage 2026," and "Château Mercian Yamanashi Muscat Bailey A New Vintage 2026"

Mercian Corporation (President: Masamitsu Otsuka, hereinafter "Mercian") will release "Nihon no Awa Shinshu 2026" (720ml), "Château Mercian Yamanashi Koshu New Vintage 2026," and "Château Mercian Yamanashi Muscat Bailey A New Vintage 2026" (750ml each) nationwide starting November 3 (Tue).

Every year, the release of new vintage wines is an event enjoyed worldwide, allowing people to feel the changing of the seasons. The new vintage wine market in Japan, in particular, has been steadily expanding, with a growth of approximately 104% from 2021 to 2025. Release events held mainly in wine-producing regions are enjoyed by a wide range of customers, including those who are not usually familiar with wine.

In 2025, the new vintage "Château Mercian" wines were well-received for their fresh and fruity taste, with sales volume increasing by about 30% year-on-year. In response to this positive reception, this year we will release the sparkling new vintage wine "Nihon no Awa Shinshu 2026" in addition to "Château Mercian Yamanashi Koshu / Yamanashi Muscat Bailey A New Vintage 2026."

Mercian will continue to contribute to the inheritance of the culture of enjoying new vintage Japanese wines through the release of these wines. Furthermore, in collaboration with wine-producing regions for "Château Mercian," we will work to further enhance the recognition of Japanese wines and create buzz.

About "Château Mercian New Vintage Japanese Wines"

- These are fresh & fruity new vintage Japanese wines from "Château Mercian," a winery that has won the No. 1 number of gold medals at the Japan Wine Competition.

- Made with 100% Japanese grapes harvested in 2026 at the "Katsunuma Winery."

Features of "Nihon no Awa Shinshu 2026"

- This is a sparkling wine made with 100% Japanese grapes (Koshu and Chardonnay), featuring a fine and pleasant effervescence with refreshing citrus aromas and rich fruit flavors.

Features of "Château Mercian Yamanashi Koshu New Vintage 2026"

- This white wine uses Yamanashi-grown "Koshu" grapes and offers a rich aroma of citrus and other fruits that spread through the mouth along with a pleasant acidity.

Features of "Château Mercian Yamanashi Muscat Bailey A New Vintage 2026"

- This red wine uses Yamanashi-grown "Muscat Bailey A" grapes and features a gorgeous aroma of red fruits, with moderate acidity and tannins.

Comment

Hironori Kobayashi, General Manager of Château Mercian Business Division

New vintage wine is a special annual occasion that allows us to enjoy the fresh fruitiness and refreshing aromas of the year's grapes as early as possible. We expect the 2026 new vintage Japanese wines to be finished in a way that allows customers to experience the individuality nurtured while facing the nature of the year. We aim to deliver the charm of these unique 2026 new vintage Japanese wines to more customers, further invigorate the culture of new vintage Japanese wines, and widely promote their value.

Under its corporate purpose, "Transforming the blessings of nature into happiness," Mercian will continue to make various proposals to enable people to enjoy rich times with wine and connections with each other, alongside nature-positive initiatives.

-Details-

1. Product Name, Color, Alcohol Content

1 "Nihon no Awa Shinshu 2026" - White

2 "Château Mercian Yamanashi Koshu New Vintage 2026" - White

3 "Château Mercian Yamanashi Muscat Bailey A New Vintage 2026" - Red

2. Volume and Container

1 720ml, Bottle 23 750ml, Bottle

3. Category Classification

Fruit Wine

4. Release Date

November 3 (Tue) *Limited quantity

5. Sales Region

Nationwide

6. Price

Open price