{"id":55630,"date":"2024-03-21T17:02:24","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T16:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.estournel.com\/le-japon-est-un-pays-de-sommeliers\/"},"modified":"2024-03-26T17:18:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T16:18:39","slug":"japan-is-a-country-of-sommeliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.estournel.com\/en\/home\/cos-chronicle\/japan-is-a-country-of-sommeliers\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cJapan is a country of sommeliers.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”55514″ img_size=”710×810″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Junko Imai, what brought you to the wine industry ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]I had just returned to Japan after working in tourism in the U.S. and was looking for a job where I could speak English. When I started working at Mottox, I didn\u2019t have any experience in the industry, but I soon fell in love with wine.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”How is wine consumed in Japan ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]We see the same phenomena as in most markets. People are drinking less alcohol in general. If we look at consumer profiles, we see a solid base of wine-lovers with extensive knowledge on one hand and consumers who enjoy a glass of wine without being connoisseurs on the other. Wine is well-distributed in Japan, in casual and high-end restaurants as well as in numerous shops. But many consumers see wine as a complex product that requires some kind of education, and it is often associated with special occasions.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”When we think of wine and Japan, we often think of Drops of God. Did the manga increase interest in wine among the Japanese ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]Drops of God had a great impact on wine-lovers. Many chateaux were portrayed in a positive light, and their wines continue to sell very well to this day. When it was adapted into a TV series, it also helped spread wine culture to a wider audience.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”How does wine work with Japanese cuisine ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]There are some very surprising pairings! During a dinner in Kyoto where Japanese cuisine was paired with red wines from Bordeaux, only one dish featured Wagyu beef; all the others featured fish or vegetables. It was fascinating! Generally speaking, there are many fine dining establishments in Japan that systematically offer food and wine pairings. Japan is a country of sommeliers, and they play a major role in disseminating wine culture !<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”What is your vision of Cos d\u2019Estournel from a Japanese perspective ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]Cos d\u2019Estournel is known for being one of Bordeaux\u2019s best wines. Wine collectors are always very happy to see a bottle of Cos d\u2019Estournel on the table! On a more personal level, we had the opportunity to visit the estate with Monsieur Reybier and his teams, and it was a very special moment for me. I was particularly impressed by Cos d\u2019Estournel 2005. It is concentrated, with quality tannins and freshness, a stunning vintage.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”To conclude, which pairings might you suggest between the wines of Cos and Japanese cuisine ?” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”pink-color”][vc_column_text]With G d\u2019Estournel, I would suggest a tuna tataki with soy sauce and wasabi. The toasted notes of seared tuna would work nicely with those of the wine. With Pagodes de Cos Blanc, a vegetable tempura with sansho salt would complement the freshness of the Sauvignon Blanc and the wine\u2019s spices. With Pagodes de Cos Rouge, I would suggest the Japanese eel unagi with a soy sauce glaze to highlight the wine\u2019s fruity aromas. Finally, Cos d\u2019Estournel would be ideal with Wagyu, its marbling a great counterpoint to the tannic structure of an exceptional wine.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”55511″ img_size=”710×810″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ambassador of Mottox, the historic importer of wine in Japan, Junko Imai offers an expert perspective on the dynamics of the wine market in her country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":55513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[132,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-regards-dailleurs","category-article"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t