Japanese wines start to measure up internationally

A Japanese wine has won a regional trophy in the Decanter Asia Wine Awards - the first time Japan has ever won a Decanter award. A gold medal and regional trophy was awarded to Grace winery's 2012 Gris de Koshu, a 100% Koshu white wine from the Yamanashi area of Japan's Chubu region. Until recently the grape variety has been used to make dessert wines or used in blends but now winemakers are using it as a single varietal in a dry style. The Decanter Asia Wine Awards were launched in 2012 to recognise wines aimed specifically at the Asian market.
This year there was a growing presence of wines produced within Asia, with a significant increase in wines from China and India.