Orion’s beers and fruit wines are iconic in Okinawa—you’ll find their drinks everywhere across the islands. Holding over 60% of Okinawa’s market share, Orion’s flagship wine is this very Passion Fruit Wine. Curious about what makes it special? Let’s dive in.

This is an aromatized wine: passion fruit pulp and juice are added during the fermentation of white grape juice, then the alcohol content is adjusted to 10.5% before bottling. Think of it as a sangria-style wine, but with an even better harmony between fruit aroma and the white wine base. These fruit-forward wines are exceptionally food-friendly and easy to drink, which explains their popularity in Japan.

On the nose, you’ll get delicate passion fruit notes and a mouthwatering, slightly tart aroma. The first sip comes across as a dry-ish white wine, followed by a rising wave of passion fruit fragrance and tangy, juicy flavors. The sweetness is low, while the passion fruit’s signature tang and fruitiness grow stronger toward the finish, leaving a lingering mixed fruit aftertaste. Overall, it has the refreshing, party-ready vibe of a white sangria.

A quick tip: the passion fruit flavor is a bit subdued at first, but intensifies with exposure to air. Even after opening, it keeps its freshness for several days in the fridge, making this a very convenient and enjoyable aromatized wine.