［Food & Beverages domain］
Château Mercian Iwade Koshu Kiiroka Cuvée Ueno 2023 Takes the Gold and Trophy, the highest award for Japanese wine, at the International Wine Challenge 2025
- Products and Services
Augst 22 2025
Mercian Corporation
TOKYO, Augst, 22, 2025 - Mercian Corporation’s Château Mercian Iwade Koshu Kiiroka Cuvée Ueno 2023 won the Gold Medal and Trophy, the highest award for Japanese wine, at the International Wine Challenge 2025, held from Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 1 May in London, England.
This is the first time a wine made using the Japanese indigenous grape variety “Koshu” won the Trophy.
Additionally, at the same competition, Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2018 won a Gold Medal, four wines including Château Mercian Hokushin Right Bank Chardonnay Rivalis 2023 won Silver Medals, three wines including Château Mercian Niitsuru Chardonnay 2021 won Bronze Medals, and three wines including Château Mercian Kataoka Vineyard 2019 won Commendations. In total, 12 wines from Mercian received awards.
International Wine Challenge
The International Wine Challenge (IWC) was first held in 1984, making it one of the oldest and most authoritative global wine and sake competitions. Judging is done by blind tasting, with the wine labels completely concealed, and rigorous selection through repeated tastings is performed by experienced judges before final assessment.
Gold Medal and Trophy Winner: Château Mercian Iwade Koshu Kiiroka Cuvée Ueno 2023
Château Mercian Kōshū Kiiroka is a wine created by successfully discovering and bringing out the citrus aroma inherently present in “Kōshū” grapes. Among these wines, Château Mercian Iwade Koshu Kiiroka Cuvée Ueno 2023 features a refreshing aroma reminiscent of grapefruit, along with the fragrant notes of Japanese citrus fruits such as kabosu and sudachi. This special vineyard-designated wine was born from the Iwade Vineyard in Yamanashi City, where the unique citrus aroma called “kiiroka” was first discovered.
Gold Medal Winner: Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2018
Château Mercian is committed to producing Japan's highest quality wines, and we have has been cultivating our own Mariko Vineyard in the Jinba Plateau of Maruko District, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture since 2003. This wine fully expresses the flavor of the grapes grown at Mariko Vineyard, combining elegance and power. “Omnis” is a Latin word meaning “all,” and the name of the wine was chosen to fully express the potential of the red wine from the Mariko Vineyard.
True to our wine business slogan of “Creating a pleasant future with wine,” Mercian Corporation will continue to offer wines that bring people together to enjoy each other’s company and spend quality time.
Summary of the Competition and Awards Won
| Competition name | International Wine Challenge 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | London, England |
| Judging | Tuesday 22 April- Thursday 1 May 2025 |
| Results announced | Tuesday 20 May 2025 (Trophy announced on Tuesday 27 May 2025) |
| Award-winning Mercian Corporation Wines |
Gold Medal and Trophy: 1 wine ・Château Mercian Iwade Koshu Kiiroka Cuvée Ueno 2023 Gold Medal: 1 wine ・Château Mercian Mariko Omnis 2018 Silver Medal: 4 wines ・Château Mercian Hokushin Right Bank Chardonnay Rivalis 2023 ・Château Mercian Hokushin Left Bank Chardonnay Rivalis 2023 ・Château Mercian Iwasaki Koshu 2023 ・Château Mercian Kikyogahara Merlot Signature 2019 Bronze Medal: 3 wines ・Château Mercian Mariko Syrah 2021 ・Château Mercian Kikyogahara Merlot 2019 ・Château Mercian Niitsuru Chardonnay 2021 Commendation: 3 wines ・Château Mercian Kataoka Vineyard 2019 ・Château Mercian Hosaka Muscat Bailey A 2019 ・Château Mercian Hosaka Muscat Bailey A Single Vineyard 2019 (Grower: Mr. Nobuo INOMATA) |
About Kirin Holdings
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.
Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV*, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.
*Creating Shared Value: combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
