Ryugan (竜眼) has been added to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine's variety list, making it the 4th Japanese wine-grape variety to be listed. Expectations are building for the future of this white grape, which is cultivated mainly in Nagano Prefecture.
The National Research Institute of Brewing announced on the 5th that Ryugan (竜眼), a white wine-grape variety cultivated mainly in Nagano Prefecture, had been added to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) variety list. This makes it the 4th Japanese wine-grape variety to be listed, following Koshu, Muscat Bailey A and Yama Sauvignon.
Ryugan is cultivated mainly in Nagano Prefecture, and its addition to the OIV list is seen as one development in the diversification of grape varieties in Japan. Expansion of its adoption and trial cultivation both in Japan and overseas is expected.
The article states that further details are scheduled to be published later in the electronic edition. The scope of the impact of Ryugan's international registration and the timing of its development for commercial production are expected to be reported in due course. Attention is also focused on trends among producers based in Nagano and other members of the alcoholic-beverage industry.