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HATSUYUKI LATE Harvest Barrel 2021 Shines at Sakura Awards 2026

HATSUYUKI LATE Harvest Barrel 2021, a dessert wine produced by NIKI Hills Winery in Hokkaido's Niki Town and managed by DAC Group, has been awarded the gold medal at the 13th Sakura Awards 2026. This honor cements its position among the top-tier wines recognized in the international wine community.

About HATSUYUKI LATE Harvest Barrel 2021

This exquisite dessert wine is crafted from grapes that are harvested later than usual, allowing for a higher sugar content and delivering a sweet flavor profile. The 2021 vintage employs grapes sourced from contracted farms, notably the Akita Orchard and Hirose Farm, where the Kerner variety boasts a remarkable sugar measurement of over 30 degrees.

The uniqueness of this vintage lies in the added body it possesses, enhanced further by its maturation in barrels over time. The wine captures the enchanting fragrances of white flowers and the rich aromas derived from noble rot grapes, combined with hints of honey and a pleasantly bitter finish. This delightful complexity makes it a perfect pairing for blue cheese and goat cheese, as well as chocolate infused with orange peel.

• - Type: White [Sweet]
• - Varietal: Kerner [from Yoichi Town]
• - Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• - Volume: 375ml
• - Price: ¥8,800 (tax included)

About the Sakura Awards

The Sakura Awards, known officially as the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards, is one of the largest international wine competitions in Japan. This year, for the 13th edition, a total of 3,715 entries from 37 countries were submitted. The awards aim to assist in discovering wines that complement Japanese cuisine, invigorate the wine market, and expand opportunities for women working within the wine industry.

For more details, visit Sakura Awards Official Site.

Special Online Sale

In celebration of this outstanding achievement, HATSUYUKI LATE Harvest Barrel 2021 will be available for limited-time online purchase. While usually exclusive to on-site sales at the winery, this unique opportunity allows wine enthusiasts everywhere to savor this award-winning vintage. Don’t miss your chance to try it out! Check it out here.

About NIKI Hills Winery

Operated by DAC Group, NIKI Hills Winery is a multifunctional winery that began operations in 2014 as part of revitalizing the community of Niki Town, which had been designated as a semi-extinct village. The winery celebrated its grand opening in 2019, boasting 33 hectares consisting of a winery, vineyards, a natural garden, a restaurant, and accommodations.

While producing award-winning wines that have consistently garnered gold medals at international competitions, NIKI Hills also prioritizes community contributions, promoting wine tourism to attract domestic and international visitors and driving the revitalization of Niki Town. Discover more about them at NIKI Hills Website.

DAC Holdings Overview

• - Company Name: DAC Holdings Inc.
• - President: Kazunori Ishikawa
• - Location: TIXTOWER UENO 13F, 4-8-1 Higashi Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015
• - Employee Count: 903 (total for DAC Group)
• - Website: DAC Group

The triumph of HATSUYUKI LATE Harvest Barrel 2021 at the Sakura Awards 2026 showcases the dedication and quality that NIKI Hills Winery represents in the world of fine wines.