Budou (grape) varieties
The finest eating grapes
Distinctive aromas bursting with flavour
By blending advanced cultivation techniques with the finest Budou varieties, we nurture our vines in both Japan and New Zealand. Harnessing the distinct warm, sunny seasons of these two regions allows us to grow grapes at their peak twice a year, offering you the best of both worlds. Making the most of the ‘obverse’ and ‘reverse’ growing seasons means we can deliver premium grapes from two natural harvests.
Red varieties
Violet King
Parent varietal Shine Muscat x Wink
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
In Japan, Violet King is revered as 'The king of red grapes'. This variety produces large, seedless, peach-shaped, bright red berries, fading to a yellow tone towards the stem. Violet King perfectly combines the sweetness of Shine Muscat with the fresh tanginess of Wink grapes.
Green varieties
Yuho
Parent varietal Shine Muscat x Tenzan
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
Yuho grapes are celebrated for their superior sweetness, delivering a luxurious burst of natural sugar with each bite. These large, golden seedless berries have a rich, sweet flavour, with almost no tanginess. The skin is extremely thin, almost transparent, with minimal crispiness, and the flesh has a delightful bouncy texture.
Red varieties
My Heart
Parent varietal Shine Muscat x Wink
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
My Heart grapes are known for their uniquely heart-shaped berries. These seedless grapes offer an intense, sweet flavour and juicy, tender flesh. Their distinctive appearance and eating quality make My Heart a favourite with chefs.
Green varieties
Kirameki
Parent varietal Shine Muscat x Rosario Bianco
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
Kirameki’s light green to golden-yellow berries have a delicate skin and smooth, elegant sweetness. Their refined flavour and texture are particularly suited to pairing with desserts.
Green varieties
Muscat Zipangu
Parent varietal Rosario Bianco x Alisa
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
Muscat Zipangu grapes have an enchanting muscat aroma, which is both floral and fruity. These medium to large seedless berries, with their light green to golden-yellow hue, have an elegant sweetness with delicate floral notes.
Red varieties
Scarlet
Parent varietal Rosario Rosso x Shine Muscat
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
Named for Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, Scarlet produces large, seedless berries, coloured from bright red to purple-red, fading to yellow. The thin-skinned berries are full of juice, with firm, crisp flesh, refined sweetness and mild acidity.
Green varieties
Musca Thirteen
Parent varietal Shine Muscat No.13 x Rosario Rosso
- Origin
- Japan
- Grown in
- New Zealand
- Season
- Mid March to Mid April
- Seedless
- Skin can be eaten
Musca Thirteen has yellow-green berries with thin, almost transparent skin and soft, chewy flesh. Deep flavour, sweetness and fragrance burst through together with every bite.