grape varieties
Here are seven representative varieties of wine grapes. There are over 10,000 grape varieties used to make wine, many of which have their roots in the European species Vitis vinifera, but it is said that there are only about 100 important varieties actually used for wine. The representative indigenous varieties of Japanese wine are Koshu and Muscat Bailey A. In recent years, with improvements in technology, the cultivation of Vitis vinifera species has also increased.
Koshu
A Japanese variety that can be used for both winemaking and eating raw. It is the variety most commonly cultivated in Yamanashi Prefecture. It has large berries and sturdy flesh, and produces a light wine with a gentle acidity and low sugar content at harvest. It has strong vigor and vigorous growth of new shoots, with some variation in growth. Vitis vinifera species.