Two Chateau Mercian Wines Win Gold Medals at the International Wine Competition 'Chardonnay du Monde 2026'

Mercian Corporation (President: Masamitsu Otsuka) announced that two of its wines, 'Chateau Mercian Hokushin Right Bank Chardonnay RIVALIS 2023' and 'Chateau Mercian Niitsuru Chardonnay 2023,' won gold medals at the international wine competition 'Chardonnay du Monde 2026,' held in France from March 10th (Tue) to 12th (Thu). Furthermore, 'Chateau Mercian Hokushin Right Bank Chardonnay RIVALIS 2023' was selected for the 'Best Chardonnay du Monde' Top 10, recognizing it as one of the most highly acclaimed Chardonnays from around the world. 'Chardonnay du Monde 2026' is a global competition founded in Burgundy, France, in 1993, specializing exclusively in the Chardonnay variety with over 30 years of history. The 'Hokushin Right Bank Chardonnay RIVALIS 2023' features grapes from the right bank of the Chikuma River in northern Nagano, known for its gravel-rich soil, resulting in a wine with rich, complex aromas, minerality, and a firm structure. 'Rivalis' is Latin for 'river,' derived from the high quality of wines produced on both banks of the Chikuma River. Hironori Kobayashi, General Manager of Chateau Mercian, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating that the company will continue to strive for winemaking that reflects Japan's terroir under the vision of 'making Japan a world-class wine region.'