Toko Co., Ltd. (Taito-ku, Tokyo) announced that as of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, it has begun sales of the latest 2024 vintage of 'Six Cloves,' a wine brand crafted by Sonoe Hirabayashi, a Japanese winemaker pursuing her dreams in California.

◆ The 2024 Vintage: One of the Best in Recent Years

The 2024 vintage of 'Six Cloves' was blessed with near-perfect weather conditions, resulting in an unforgettable harvest characterized by extraordinary concentration and brilliant elegance. Moderate summer temperatures allowed the grapes to reach ideal maturity, balancing vibrant acidity with deep, complex flavors. Each wine is a stunning achievement that can be enjoyed now while also demonstrating significant aging potential.

◆ The Founding of 'Six Cloves'

Sonoe Hirabayashi, the owner of 'Six Cloves,' grew up familiar with fermentation culture; her grandfather’s family ran a miso and soy sauce wholesale business, and her grandmother’s family operated a sake brewery. While working for a Japanese trading company in New York, she was captivated by the allure of wine. Driven by a strong determination to become a winemaker, she enrolled in the prestigious Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis, graduating in 2011.

Her post-graduation journey involved rigorous training around the world. After interning at the cult Napa winery Checkerboard Vineyards, she gained experience at Matthiasson in Napa, Kusuda Wines in New Zealand, and Montsecano in Chile.

As a small-statured Japanese woman working in the winemaking field in foreign lands, she faced challenges beyond imagination. However, through sheer willpower and relentless effort, she overcame these barriers and finally established her own winery, 'Six Cloves,' in 2018.

◆ The Philosophy of 'Six Cloves'

When Hirabayashi first set out to become a winemaker, she encountered the then-mainstream, highly rational, and commercialized style of California winemaking...

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: News