Categories: Food & Wine

Japanese Plum Wines: The Top 5

Fruit wines such as plum are simply fermented alcoholic beverages made from fruits other than grapes. In Japan they are called “ume.” That is from the Japanese apricot plum. The plum blossoms look somewhat similar to the cherry blossom. Instead, they bloom in the months of late January and early February. This Japanese alcoholic drink is made by steeping the green plum into a clear liquid. The resulting taste is a sweet and smooth sensation. The aroma of the plum wine is very appealing too.

One of the benefits of Japanese plum wine it’s not a strict dessert wine like so many other fruit wines. Depending on how sweet the ume is you can serve it as an appetizer or with a light meal. If the plum wine is very sweet then it is the perfect dessert wine for you and your guests. Incidentally, plum wines are not to be confused with Japanese sake, which is made from rice. Japan’s equivalent to Napa Valley is in Yamanashi Prefecture, which is not far from Tokyo. Many urbanites take day trips to check out the 90 vineyards and wineries. For your wining and dining pleasure here are the top five Japanese plum wines you can find online or ask for them at your nearby wine shop.

1. Fu-Ki Plum Wine

This and the rest of the Japanese plum wines on the list can be found at the Internet Wines & Spirits website. The Fu-Ki wine is cultivated by a method used for hundreds of years in Japan. The plums are picked at the break of dawn and then processed the same day. This is to help preserve and keep in its dewy freshness and flavor that makes this plum wines distinctive from all others. It’s also made with grape spirits and other natural flavors such as sake. You can serve it chilled or on the rocks. Fu-Ki Plum Wine is a delicate, light and subtle wine that goes perfectly with desserts. Price: $10.89

2. Gekkeikan Plum Wine

Wakayama Prefecture is another equivalent to the Napa Valley of Japan, which is where this plum wine comes from. They are made from the choicest plums of Wakayama. It has a sweet, but subtle taste from its natural plum flavor with just a hint of tartness. The light, sweet sensation makes it perfect on the rocks or served chilled or in a variety of cocktails. Even though this is a dessert wine it can be served with Japanese or other ethnic foods that is not too spicy. Price: $15.00

3. Hakutsuru Plum

Once again by using select plums or ume this wine is brewed with highly developed fermentation skills and techniques. It is then characterized by Hakutsuru’s semi-sweet, sour taste and matured aroma from the plum fruit that makes it so refreshing. Flavor-wise it is sweet with a light-bodied structure. Serve it chilled for the best effect along with an appetizer or as a dessert. Price: $14.16

4. Akadama Plum

In central Japan is where the beautiful Wakayama orchards are that have the choicest plums for this plum wine. The ume’s rich nectar and other natural flavors are blended carefully until its reaches a perfect balance of aroma and flavor. You can enjoy Akadama Plum Royale at room temperature, chilled, on the rocks and served with desserts. Price: $8.13

5. Kinsen Plum Wine

By far the most popular plum wine in Japan and all over the world due to its production that imposes the strictest quality control. It is a sweet wine with aromas from plums, oranges, cherries and rice. You can serve it with lunch or a light dinner ideally during the late summer when it’s the hottest. Kinsen Plum Wine goes excellent with chicken salad, teriyaki and sushi. The crisp plum flavor is great as a cocktail or other fruity drink. You can try it with desserts or fruit salads. Price: $9.56

These wines are truly prefect to chill out to, but do go well with appetizers, salads and light meals. No matter if it’s on the rocks or chilled this is a splendid way to relax with friends and family when you opt for a bottle of Japanese plum wine.

SOURCES:

Fruit wine, Wikipedia

Five Best Japanese Plum Wines to Try, HubPages

Rice & Plum Wines, Chiff.com

Plum, Internet Wines & Spirits