Chateau Mars

Japan Wine Challenge

JWC 2019

Japanese White Wine Category

BEST OF SHOW TROPHY

JWCJapan Wine Challenge

Japan Wine Challenge (JWC) is held in Tokyo and judged by a panel of top-level professionals, including Masters of Wine, from Japan and abroad.
It is the oldest and most prestigious international wine competition in Japan and all of Asia. Winning an award here earns recognition throughout the global wine industry.

2025

GOLD

Chateau Mars Shirane Koshu Sur-lie 2023

Best Value (1,000~1,999)Japanese White Wine Category

Chateau Mars Shirane Koshu Sur-lie 2023

2022

TROPHY for Best Japanese White WineJapanese White Wine Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2021

GOLD

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2021

2019

BEST OF SHOW TROPHYJapanese White Wine Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Hosaka Shukaku 2018

TROPHY for Best White WineNew World White Wine Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Hosaka Shukaku 2018

TROPHYBest Value Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Hosaka Shukaku 2018

PLATINUM

Chateau Mars Shirane Koshu Sur-lie 2018

GOLD

Chateau Mars Koshu Hosaka Shukaku 2018

GOLD

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2018

2017

TROPHY for Best Red WineJapanese Red Wine Category

Chateau Mars Cabernet Bailey A Hosaka Shukaku 2015

GOLD

Chateau Mars Cabernet Bailey A Hosaka Shukaku 2015

2013

GOLD

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2012

Japan Wine Competition

Japan Wine Competition is dedicated to Japanese wine. A panel of wine experts, journalists, industry authorities, and winemakers recommended by each producing region conducts the judging.
The competition aims to improve the quality and recognition of Japanese wine and elevate the image of the producing regions and the status of Japanese wine.

2005

GoldKOSHU

Chateau Mars Shirane Koshu Sur-lie 2004

IWSCInternational Wine & Spirits Competition

International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) is the world's oldest dedicated alcoholic beverage competition, held in the UK. Winners are selected through blind tastings and chemical analysis conducted by renowned judges from around the globe.
The IWSC is now recognized as Europe's largest and one of the world's most prestigious competitions for wines, spirits, and liqueurs.

2021

GOLDWine Category

Chateau Mars Makioka Koshu 2020

Kura Master

Kura Master is a competition for French consumers featuring Japanese sake, shochu, awamori, and plum wine.
Judging focuses on "food and drink pairing" by professionals in the food and beverage industry, including holders of the French state's highest artisan qualification, MOF, as well as top sommeliers, bartenders, carvers, and restaurant, hotel, and culinary school representatives.

2025

Jury AwardJapanese Wine Koshu Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2024

PLATINUMJapanese Wine Koshu Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2024

GOLDJapanese Wine Koshu Category

Chateau Mars Hosaka Shukaku Blanc 2023

DWWADecanter World Wine Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is a global wine competition organized by the British wine magazine Decanter.
A panel of the world's top wine experts judge wines from around the world through blind tasting.

2022

Value Gold

Chateau Mars Koshu Verdinho 2021

SAKURA Japan Women's Wine Awards

SAKURA Japan Women's Wine Awards is an international wine competition judged by women in Japan. It features blind tastings conducted by female judges who are active in Japan's wine industry.
The number of entries increases annually, and the competition is recognized as one of the largest and most prestigious in Asia.

2025

GoldStill wine red Category

Chateau Mars Hosaka Shukaku Rouge 2022

GoldStill wine white Category

Chateau Mars Hosaka Shukaku Blanc 2023

2024

Double GoldOrange wine Category

Chateau Mars Koshu Orange-gris 2022

2023

GoldStill wine white Category

Chateau Mars Makioka Koshu 2022

2022

GoldSweet wine Category

Chateau Mars Delaware Orange 2020

GoldStill wine red Category

Chateau Mars Hosaka Shukaku Rouge 2020

2021

Double GoldStill wine white Category

Chateau Mars Makioka Koshu 2022

Since 1960
History of Mars Wine

In 1960, Hombo Shuzo, headquartered in Kagoshima, Japan, entered the wine business in earnest with the completion of its Yamanashi Plant (now Mars Yamanashi Winery) as a base for the production of Western-style wines. We continue to humbly listen to the soil and climate of this region, and aim to produce world-class wines.” With the theme of “Harmony of mellow taste and elegant fragrance,” Mars Wine is striving to produce prestigious wines richly fragrant with nature, as typified by the Chateau Mars series, from grapes grown in the soil of Yamanashi.

History of Mars Wine since 1960

Grapes Nurtured by Yamanashi's Soil

The Chateau Mars series not only reflects the characteristics of the grape varieties in its wines, but also strives to express the individuality of the region and vineyard in its wines, which is determined by the terroir through the varietal characteristics. At Mars Hosaka Winery, the “Gravity Flow” design is used to create delicate and gentle wines that are less stressful on the grapes and grape juice. We maximize the potential of the grapes nurtured in the soil of Yamanashi to produce wines with rich individuality.

From grapes grown in the soil of Yamanash

Grapes for White Wine

  • Koshu Variety
    Koshu

    The history of cultivation of this variety is said to be 1300 years old. It is a European grape variety indigenous to Japan and widely grown on terraces, mainly in Yamanashi Prefecture, and is Japan's representative white wine grape variety. It produces wines with delicate flavors and aromas of Japanese citrus and grapefruit.

  • Chardonnay
    Chardonnay

    Chardonnay is the world's most popular white wine grape variety, native to the Burgundy region of France. It produces a wide range of wines, from sharp to concentrated, with different characteristics depending on the region. It is also an important variety for sparkling wine.

  • Viognier
    Viognier

    A white wine grape variety native to the Cotes du Rhône region of France. It has a mild acidity and produces wines with a rich fruity aroma with a very distinctive character, such as lychee, peach and apricot.

Grapes for Red Wine

  • Muscat Berry-a
    Muscat Berry-a

    A shelf-grown grape variety that was crossed with Muscat Hamburg on Baily in Japan in 1927. It produces a smooth tasting red wine with a sweet aroma reminiscent of candy.

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
    Cabernet Sauvignon

    Native to the Bordeaux region of France, this grape variety makes some of the world's most famous and long-lived red wines. Grown all over the world, it has rich tannins, pigments, and flavor compounds, and its deep color and weight give it a seductive bouquet after long aging.

  • Merlot
    Merlot

    A red wine grape variety native to the Bordeaux region of France. It is characterized by fine tannins and produces round, soft wines. When blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, it produces a complex and rich wine.

  • Syrah
    Syrah

    A long-lived red wine grape variety native to the Côtes du Rhône region of France. It produces wines with a dark color, dense, spicy aroma, and powerful flavor.

  • Cabernet Franc
    Cabernet Franc

    A red wine grape variety from which the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is derived. It is widely grown in France and produces gorgeous wines with supple astringency and good acidity.

  • Petit Verdot
    Petit Verdot

    One of the traditional red wine grape varieties from the Bordeaux region of France. It is very dark in color, with concentrated tannins and acidity. It is often blended as an auxiliary variety.

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