At “Kura Master,” a Japanese sake competition held in France for French consumers since 2017, “Aldebaran,” a wine produced from grapes grown in the city of Ibara, in Okayama Prefecture, and supervised by Professor Akihiro Kaneko, Director of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology at Okayama University of Science, won a Gold Award in the Muscat Bailey A category on May 11. The wine was produced by Yokohama Winery. Last year, “Junmai -eme-,” another product developed under Professor Kaneko’s direction, received the Platinum Award, marking the second consecutive year of recognition for his work.
“Aldebaran” is a red wine made exclusively from Muscat Bailey A grapes, a specialty of the Aono district in Ibara. Although the area was once a major production center for the variety, output has declined as growers shifted to higher-priced grape varieties. Determined to preserve the legacy of this historic grape, local supporters pooled funds in the fall of 2025 to purchase 200 kilograms of Bailey A grapes and commissioned Yokohama Winery in Yokohama to produce the wine. Professor Kaneko’s expertise and professional network played a key role throughout the process.
Part of the approximately 200 bottles produced has already been released for sale and received favorable reviews. Professor Kaneko described the wine as having “a harmonious balance between a concentrated strawberry-like aroma reminiscent of jam and a fresh, slightly herbaceous note,” adding that “its smooth, approachable taste pairs well with a wide variety of dishes.”
The name “Aldebaran” comes from the red first-magnitude star in the constellation Taurus, which appears in the early winter evening sky around the time winemaking concludes.
Meanwhile, “Junmai -eme-,” a sake brewed by Kamikokoro Brewery using yeast isolated from Muscat of Alexandria grapes by Professor Kaneko and his colleagues at the Institute of Viticulture and Enology, received the competition’s highest distinction, the Platinum Award, in the Junmai Sake category at the 2025 Kura Master competition.