Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. is launching "Kobe Reserva," a new premium series from its KOBE WINE brand made with 100% Kobe-grown grapes, in limited quantities nationwide from September 11, 2026 (Friday). For the inaugural 2025 vintage, two wines are being released: Kobe Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon and Kobe Reserva Riesling.
Kobe Reserva is a new premium brand built around a focus on single varietals and the finest growing areas, with each wine crafted and released only in years when high-quality grapes are available. The series is designed to highlight the natural aroma and flavor of well-grown grapes, offering wines that capture the character of their particular year. Stable weather during the 2025 flowering season, combined with strong summer sunshine, allowed for a harvest of ripe, healthy fruit. As a result, the vintage fully expresses both Kobe's warm climate, long hours of sunshine, and well-draining soil, and the individual character of each grape variety, making it an excellent choice for special occasions.
In addition to liquor shops and restaurants nationwide, the wines will be available through the official online shop, the Agri Shop inside Kobe Agri Park — a food and agriculture theme park in Kobe's Nishi Ward where Kobe Winery is located — and Hakutsuru's directly run stores.
Product Details
Kobe Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
- Vintage: 2025
- Origin: Ozo district, Kita Ward, Kobe
- Variety: 100% Kobe-grown Cabernet Sauvignon
- Ingredients: Grapes (domestic) / Antioxidant (sulfites)
- Alcohol content: 12%
- Suggested retail price: ¥2,800 (excluding tax)
- Category: Fruit wine
- Taste: Medium-bodied
- Product highlights: A single-varietal wine made only in years when high-quality grapes are harvested. Rich aromas of cassis and blueberry blend with delicate tannins for a wine with layered depth.
- Food pairing: Pairs well with rich, full-flavored dishes such as beef cheek braised in red wine, roast duck, and meat dishes made with black vinegar.
Kobe Reserva Riesling 750ml
- Vintage: 2025
- Origin: Oshibedani district, Nishi Ward, Kobe
- Variety: 100% Kobe-grown Riesling
- Ingredients: Grapes (domestic) / Antioxidant (sulfites)
- Alcohol content: 10%
- Suggested retail price: ¥2,800 (excluding tax)
- Category: Fruit wine
- Taste: Off-dry (slightly sweet)
- Product highlights: A single-varietal wine made only in years when high-quality grapes are harvested. Aromas of white flowers and citrus meet elegant sweetness and bright acidity for a refined, well-balanced flavor.
- Food pairing: Pairs well with delicately rich dishes such as kombu-cured sea bream, sautéed scallops, and cream pasta.
About the 2025 Vintage
Kobe Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the Ozo district of Kobe's Kita Ward. The fruit comes from vineyards managed by growers who have cultivated wine grapes there for more than 30 years. Years of experience in vine management and yield control have resulted in consistently high-quality grapes, all harvested by hand to protect the fruit. In 2025, the vineyard yielded well-ripened fruit with the rich fruitiness and deep color characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vintage reflects the growers' long-accumulated expertise and the character of the Ozo district.
Kobe Reserva Riesling
Made with 100% Riesling grapes grown in company-managed vineyards in the Oshibedani district of Kobe's Nishi Ward, all from vines more than 40 years old. Riesling is a variety suited to cool climates and known to be difficult to grow in Japan, but cultivation has continued in Oshibedani for many years. The grapes are hand-harvested to protect the fruit and maintain quality. The concentrated character from the old vines, combined with Riesling's characteristic aromatic richness and bright acidity, defines this vintage — a wine that expresses both the terroir of Oshibedani and the individuality of its old vines, representative of Kobe-grown Riesling.
About KOBE WINE
KOBE WINE is a Japanese wine brand that represents Kobe, established in 1983. Made entirely with Kobe-grown grapes, the wines are produced at Kobe Winery in Kobe's Nishi Ward, drawing on the region's distinctive terroir.
