Kazumi Wines Koshu Napa Valley 2024

Michelle Kazumi Sakazaki’s journey is one of homecoming, heritage, and bold vision. Born in California and raised in Tokyo, she returned to Napa Valley carrying a love for both worlds—a reverence for Japanese tradition and a deep respect for California’s terroir. In 2015, a gift of Sauvignon Blanc grapes from friends in Rutherford sparked the creation of Kazumi Wines. From there, Michelle explored both white and red varietals, laying the foundation for what would become a groundbreaking venture.

In 2021, Michelle made an innovative leap that expanded the Napa Valley wine landscape while honoring her heritage. Kazumi became the first brand in the United States to plant, harvest, and bottle the ancient Japanese grape Koshu. This project, in collaboration with her father, Jack Sakazaki, and renowned winemaker Kale Anderson, began with a modest test plot after Jack’s hobby vineyard was destroyed by wildfire. The vines thrived in Napa’s sun-drenched valleys, and what started as an experiment has now blossomed into a celebrated Napa Koshu, embraced in both the U.S. and Japan.

The 2024 Koshu comes from the Bayview and Karabian Vineyards, where the grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in a careful mix of vessels: 25% new French oak, 33% neutral French oak, and 42% stainless steel. After a cool fermentation to preserve the grape’s delicate aromatics, the wine is aged in the same vessels for four months and bottled without fining. The result is a dry white of remarkable freshness, subtle fruit, and a whisper of umami—a perfect food wine and a testament to Napa’s diversity.