Shiojiri Shinshu Merlot 2004, produced by Suntory's Shiojiri Winery, was awarded a Silver Medal at the French wine competition, Les Citadelles du Vin 2008.
Les Citadelles du Vin is an international wine competition, held every year since 1992 under the sponsorship of Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV). The most recent competition received 1,107 entries from 30 countries throughout the world.
Shiojiri Shinshu Merlot is a wine made entirely from grapes grown in Nagano prefecture, a place renowned for its fine wines. This wine brings out the finest qualities of the merlot grape, which is ideally suited to the climate and nature of Nagano prefecture. Merlot is typically characterized by a smooth taste, a uniquely rich fruity flavor existing in harmony with a pleasingly balanced hint of tannin, yielding an impressive flavor with a dominant component of fruit.
Suntory's Shiojiri Winery was established in 1936 in Nagano prefecture and is located in the Kikyogahara region of the city of Shiojiri. In recent years, the winery has contracted with local farmers to grow grapes and begun producing wine that is made entirely of Nagano grapes. The results have included Special Edition Shiojiri Kikyogahara Merlot, Shinshu Chardonnay, and other wines that have won gold medals at domestic wine competitions. The wines from Shiojiri Winery have won high marks for quality both domestically and abroad.
| Name of competition and award | Les Citadelles du Vin 2008, Silver Medal |
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| Venue | The town of Bourg sur Gironde, in the Bordeaux region (Gironde department) of France |
| Entries | 1,107 |
| Winning wine | Suntory Shiojiri Winery Shiojiri Shinshu Merlot 2004, full-bodied red, 720 ml ¥3,007 (excluding tax)
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