Copyright kyodonews
TOKYO - This year's first shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau wine arrived in Japan from France on Wednesday, ahead of its release on Nov. 20. Despite rising prices in Japan and elsewhere, the suggested retail price per 750-milliliter bottle will be set at 3,256 yen ($21), same as last year's, according to Suntory Holdings Ltd., which imports and distributes the French wine from the region of Beaujolais. "It features a sweet and rich taste, as this has been a good year blessed with sunshine," a Suntory official said. The company plans to import a total of about 335,000 liters of the wine, down about 2 percent from the previous year. To cultivate a wider customer base, Suntory eyes reinforcing sales of 375-milliliter bottles, in addition to the popular 750-milliliter type. "(The release) is an annual celebration. Beaujolais Nouveau plays an important role in spreading wine culture," said Keiko Yoshio, who is in charge of wine business at Suntory, after a shipment of wine arrived at Tokyo's Haneda airport. Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November every year. Another shipment arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday morning, and further shipments are expected to reach across the country later.
