Mujugucheondongsan Wild Grapeju

Description

Mujugucheondongsan Wild Grape Ju is a 16% ABV fruit wine built on meoru (Korean wild grape), a fruit native to the mountainous interior of the peninsula. At 16%, this sits at the higher end of Korean fruit wines, closer to a fortified or dessert-wine territory. The wild grapes used here grow in semi-wild conditions at elevation, producing smaller berries with concentrated skin-to-juice ratio — which translates into deeper color, more tannic grip, and a forest-berry intensity that cultivated grapes rarely match. The nose opens with blackberry bramble, dried wild herbs, and a dark, earthy sweetness that evokes the mountain forests where meoru thrives. On the palate, the body is medium-full with a thick, layered texture. The sweetness is generous but anchored by firm, slightly astringent tannins from the wild grape skins, creating a tension that makes this wine more serious than casual sipping. The finish is long and warming, with lingering berry-skin bitterness and an earthy tail. The 750ml format suits deliberate, food-paired drinking. Serve slightly cool at 14-16°C with aged hard cheeses where the tannin meets fat, alongside grilled meats like duck or pork belly, or with walnut-based desserts where the wild character finds kinship.

Ingredients

Wild Grape

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings