New Zealand Wine & Rugby: Japan Focus
There's no doubt that for the next seven weeks both 'The Brave Blossoms' and the All Blacks will have their eyes on glory and each team is focused on lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. Rivalry aside, the two nations have common ground… The unmistakable love of New Zealand wine.
Exports of New Zealand Wine to Asia have increased almost 240% from 1.5 million litres in 2006 to 5.3 million litres in June 2011. This volume is at an average price per litre of over $11.60 and reflects a total export value of almost NZD$61.5 million. June 2011 year end statistics show exports of New Zealand Wine to Japan have increased 34%, with Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends exports up a massive 81%.
The New Zealand wine industry is creative, innovative, and brimming with interesting personalities from around the world. Many of the colourful characters in the industry have links to Japan. Here are a few facts that tie the two nations together through wine…
Kimura Cellars, Marlborough:
Kimura Cellars is owned by Japanese winemaker Shigehisa Kimura who has been living in New Zealand with his wife, Mieko and his son, Ryo since 2004. Shigehisa Kimura started his wine career as a sommelier in a top hotel in Tokyo. He was a qualified sommelier which is a highly sought after wine qualification in Japan. Shigehisa's knowledge of and passion for wine developed while he was working in the hospitality industry in Japan. A trip to France to see the Grand Cru vineyards and wineries inspired his winemaking venture before making a move to New Zealand.
Shigehisa describes the Kimura Cellars brand as "a harmony of New Zealand and Japan", as the wine label features the cherry blossom - the symbol of Japan, and a Koru - the symbol of New Zealand. The cherry blossom on the Kimura Cellars wine label also adorns the Japanese rugby team shirt.
Kimura Cellars has been exporting wines to Japan since 2009 with great success.
The vineyard which produces the Kimura Cellars single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is located in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough. The site, which has cool nights and long dry summers with free draining stony soil, produces premium grapes which express a distinctive wine aroma and flavour.