New Release of New Zealand Wine "Taka Kei Wines" Produced by Globally Acclaimed Japanese Winemaker Takahiro Oyama

Mottox Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President: Taisuke Teranishi), a specialized liquor trading company founded in 1915, began handling "Taka Kei Wines," a winery in Waipara Valley, New Zealand, from June 16, 2026.

Producer: Taka Kei Wines

Takahiro Oyama established "Koyama Wines" in 2009 and established an international reputation for his Pinot Noir, which combines delicacy and structure, in the Waipara Valley.

His style, which fuses a meticulous sensibility unique to Japanese people with world-class winemaking techniques honed through his training, has garnered strong support from many wine lovers and experts.

In 2022, "Taka Kei Wines" was born as the culmination of this philosophy, inheriting its essence.

"Taka Kei Wines" is currently based in the Waipara region of North Canterbury on New Zealand's South Island, and also sources grapes from contract growers in Central Otago. They meticulously craft small-batch wines that reflect the individuality of each region. In particular, the single-vineyard series is limited in production and allocated annually, with only a very small amount imported to Japan.

Winemaking Philosophy

Owner Winemaker: Takahiro Oyama

"Minimize human intervention and express the land and vintage as they are." With this philosophy, he avoids excessive extraction and technical manipulation, adopting an approach that maximizes the potential of the grapes.

Pinot Noir Winemaking

All grapes are hand-picked and carefully sorted at the winery. Fermentation takes place in open-top tanks using wild yeast for natural fermentation, finished with gentle handling to avoid excessive extraction. After fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for approximately 10-15 months. During this period, malolactic fermentation also proceeds naturally. The wine is bottled with minimal sulfur dioxide addition, without fining or filtration. This simple process allows the character of the terroir and vintage to be expressed directly.

Chardonnay Winemaking

The Chardonnay, newly added to the lineup from 2025, comes from a north-facing slope further northwest of the Waipara Valley. The grapes are harvested from a vineyard with limestone soil. The harvested grapes are pressed whole cluster at the winery, and the juice is transferred directly to used French oak barrels without settling, where fermentation takes place. After fermentation, the wine is aged in barrels for 10 months with batonnage performed every two weeks. Natural malolactic fermentation occurs during the aging period.

After malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is racked from the barrels and bottled without filtration or fining.

Waipara Valley, New Zealand

The Waipara Valley is one of the notable wine-producing regions located on New Zealand's South Island. It is about a one-hour drive north of Christchurch and is known as a region blessed with a favorable natural environment for grape cultivation.

The Southern Alps to the west block moist air. Meanwhile, to the east, low mountain ranges formed by the uplift of the seabed line the coast, moderating the influence of the maritime climate. This results in a warmer climate compared to the coast, creating an ideal environment for grape maturation.

Soils vary from gravelly in the west to clay-limestone in the east, coexisting in a narrow area. This unique terroir is particularly evident in Pinot Noir, producing different characteristics for each vineyard even with the same winemaking process.

Currently, they collaborate with three contract growers to produce single-vineyard series and blended wines from grapes grown in excellent vineyards. While focusing on Pinot Noir, they also produce Riesling and Chardonnay, emphasizing the direct expression of the region's diversity in their wines.

Product Information

<Waipara Pinot Noir 2024>

- Origin: Waipara Valley, North Canterbury GI, New Zealand - Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (Vine age: 15 years / Yield: 35 hl/ha) - Fermentation: After destemming, fermentation in open-top fermentation tanks (native yeast, 21 days), maceration 10 days - Aging: 10 months in French oak barrels (used barrels, 228L), 12 months bottle aging - Alcohol Content: 13% - Taste Profile: Red, Medium-bodied - Product Code: 624724 - Volume/Quantity: 750ml x 12 - Suggested Retail Price: 4,300 yen (excluding tax) - Release Date: June 16, 2026

Comment:

Aromas of red cherry and plum are layered with nuances of herbs and earthy umami, leading to an earthy complexity derived from heavy clay soil that spreads across the palate. Very ripe tannins guide this beautiful wine to a long finish.

<Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2024>

- Origin: Bannockburn GI, Central Otago, New Zealand - Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (Vine age: 20 years / Yield: 32 hl/ha) - Fermentation: After destemming, fermentation in open-top fermentation tanks (native yeast, 21 days), maceration 10 days - Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels (used barrels, 228L), 9 months bottle aging - Alcohol Content: 13.4% - Taste Profile: Red, Medium-bodied - Product Code: 624721 - Volume/Quantity: 750ml x 12 - Suggested Retail Price: 6,800 yen (excluding tax) - Release Date: June 16, 2026

Comment:

In addition to dark cherry and plum, nuances of thyme are perceived, characterized by the distinctive Central Otago umami and spice, along with a subtle smoky aroma. It possesses very vibrant aromas and beautiful fruitiness, harmonizing with silky tannins.

<Bedford Estate Pinot Noir 2024>

- Origin: Waipara Valley, North Canterbury GI, New Zealand - Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (Vine age: 10 years / Yield: 37.5 hl/ha) - Fermentation: After destemming, fermentation in open-top fermentation tanks (native yeast, 21 days), maceration 10 days - Aging: 10 months in French oak barrels (10% new oak, 228L), 9 months bottle aging - Alcohol Content: 14% - Taste Profile: Red, Medium-bodied - Product Code: 624723 - Volume/Quantity: 750ml x 12 - Suggested Retail Price: 6,800 yen (excluding tax) - Release Date: June 16, 2026

Comment:

It has a vibrant aroma reminiscent of fresh red cherry, raspberry, and plum. The taste is youthful and dry, with fine-grained, ripe tannins. It possesses a depth that combines delicacy with umami and complexity, along with subtle herbal nuances.

<Isolated Hill Chardonnay 2025>

- Origin: Waipara Valley, North Canterbury GI, New Zealand - Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay (Vine age: 10 years) - Fermentation: Fermentation in French oak barrels (used barrels, 228L, 35 days) - Aging: 10 months in French oak barrels (used barrels, 228L), 2 months bottle aging - Alcohol Content: 13.8% - Taste Profile: White, Dry - Product Code: 624725 - Volume/Quantity: 750ml x 12 - Suggested Retail Price: 6,800 yen (excluding tax) - Release Date: June 16, 2026

Comment:

A bouquet of lemon peel and roasted hazelnut is layered with tropical fruit nuances reminiscent of pineapple. A sharp acidity beautifully harmonizes with the creamy texture derived from lees aging. It has a very long finish with a subtle salinity.

About Mottox Co., Ltd.

Mottox Co., Ltd., a specialized liquor trading company founded in 1915, will celebrate its 110th anniversary in 2025. Under the concept of "Value & Quality," they handle carefully selected products that embody the history and passion of producers from around the world, as well as the characteristics and culture of their regions. They deliver wines and foods from 25 countries worldwide, as well as Japanese sake, shochu, and awamori from excellent breweries across Japan, at fair prices, contributing to the development of Japanese food culture.

Head Office: 1-6-20 Kosaka-honmachi, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 577-0802

Representative: Taisuke Teranishi, President and Representative Director

Established: March 1954 (Founded: September 1915)

Business Activities: Specialized liquor trading company (Imported wines, national regional sake, shochu, awamori)

URL: https://www.mottox.co.jp

Contact for General Inquiries:

Company Name: Mottox Co., Ltd.

TEL: 0120-344101