Grape Republic 'Arancione' Yamagata Orange 2022

A rule-breaking, rule-setting orange wine from one of Japan’s most exciting natural producers. Arancione is the work of Tokyo sommelier-turned-vigneron Kazuomi Fujimaki, who left the city behind to grow organic grapes and craft additive-free wines in the village of Shinden, Yamagata. His mission? Keep it natural, skip the sulfur, and let amphora do a little of the talking. This 2022 blend leads with Delaware given two weeks of skin contact, then blended with a light skin-contact mix of Steuben, Neo Muscat, and Merlot. It’s layered, textural, and deeply aromatic with notes of orange peel, jasmine tea, and a soft, savory umami thread that lingers on the finish. Fermented in a mix of stainless and amphora, this is a wine that balances clarity with wildness in a way only Grape Republic can. Producer: Grape Republic Region: Yamagata, Japan Variety: Delaware, Steuben, Neo Muscat, Merlot Alcohol: 11.5%