Hotel de l’Alpage’s wine cellar offers a selection of over 2,000 wines. The wines we store are directly imported from France, allowing guests to enjoy flavours and aromas that are very close to those experienced locally in France. It is often said that the more a wine is transported, the more it ages, but our wines are minimally moved within Japan after entering the country, ensuring their quality remains stable.
For Champagne, we offer products from small-scale, family-owned growers known as Récoltant-Manipulants (RM), who not only grow the grapes but also produce and sell their own Champagne. Their meticulous vineyard management and winemaking, made possible by their limited production, result in unique and expressive wines that truly reflect the terroir. Our selection of white and red wines includes many top-quality producers from across France, including some rare gems that are not widely available in Japan.
In this article, we will introduce Champagne, white wines, and red wines from our wine cellar that we recommend for this autumn and winter. These selections pair beautifully with the new autumn-winter menu at our restaurant “Le Jardin,” starting in October.
Champagne
The cuvée made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes is named “Les Terres Fines,” meaning “The Fine Soils” (that produce the Champagne). The flavour is generally robust and powerful, with prominent acidity and fruitiness, characterized by a well-balanced overall taste.
White wine
Anne Boisson, a young winemaker currently gaining the most attention in Meursault, has been greatly influenced by her lifelong mentor—her father—and the renowned producers who represent the best of Meursault. She prioritizes maintaining healthy vineyards and does not use chemical agents such as pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Moving away from the once heavy style of Meursault, her wines embody a new era of light and stylish flavours. The wine offers aromas of grapefruit, orange, and apricot nectar, with a refreshing citrus quality on the palate. It has precise minerality, an elegant structure, and leaves a pleasant acidity.
Red wine
Domaine Stéphane Magnien, a prestigious estate in the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, has been passed down through four generations since 1897. The grapes are hand-harvested, with 100% destemming*. They are fermented slowly with natural yeast and bottled without fining or filtration, resulting in a refined Burgundy that embodies true elegance. The wine has aromas of black cherry and mocha, with a fresh and profound taste. It features a well-balanced blend of red fruit flavors and concentration, offering a rich and diverse texture.
*Destemming: The process of removing the grape stems, which can impart bitterness or astringency, from the grape clusters.
Guests can begin with Champagne before dinner, savor wines during the meal, and enjoy the lingering flavors of French-imported brandy and liqueurs in the cigar room at the bar “Le Rêve,” which is accompanied by a library. Please enjoy the long autumn evenings at our hotel with our wines and after-dinner drinks.
