The first batch of 650 bottles of Koshu-labelled wine to be marketed in Europe left Japan for London, reported iStockAnalyst on 21 July, with a further 2,000 bottles expected to follow by September. Both of 2009 vintage, Grace Koshu Kayagatake and Grace Koshu Private Reserve wines will be sold in Japanese restaurants and other establishments.
EU law states that producers cannot sell wine with labels bearing the names of ingredient grapes unless the grapes have won recognition by an international organisation.
The Koshu grape was registered with the International Organization of Vine and Wine in 2010 so that it could be sold in the EU.
