Norwegian Wood and Koshu
Norwegian Wood
Haruki Murakami, 1987
Koshu
Yamanashi, Japan
Delicate, melancholy and unmistakably Japanese.
Why it works
Murakami’s most tender novel is a book of quiet rooms, rain and longing, and it pairs beautifully with Japan’s own native white grape. Koshu, grown in the foothills of Mount Fuji, makes a pale, featherlight wine with notes of white peach, yuzu and a faintly bitter green-tea finish.
It is gentle rather than dramatic, which suits a story told in memory. Low in alcohol and very fresh, it is a wine for reading late into the night without losing the thread.
Also try
A dry Grüner Veltliner shares Koshu’s crisp, slightly peppery character.
In the same spirit
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