Ome city in western Tokyo has chosen a new name for the wine produced from locally grown grapes that is nod to its sister city: “Danke,” meaning “thank you” in German.
The new name will be applied to bottles of red wine that will be sold from Aug. 7.
The city has produced wine every year using grapes grown from grapevine seedlings sent by its sister city, Boppard, in Germany.
The name of the wine was “Boppard no Shizuku” (drops from Boppard) until last year.
However, this name violated a National Tax Agency regulation that geographical names can only be used in the titles of products made in that region.
And while the grapes are grown in Ome city, the wine is actually vinted in Yamanashi Prefecture, so the use of “Ome” would also be against regulations.
Given these restrictions, the city solicited a new name for the wine in April.
Of 218 submissions, the top three candidates were chosen by a public vote, while the city’s mayor and others made the final selection.
The winning name Danke was proposed by Ai Mashiko, who lives in Ome and helps harvest the grapes every year. She said the name expressed her gratitude to those involved producing and consuming the wine, such as the city of Boppard and those who purchase it.
A 750-milliliter bottle of Danke red wine is priced at 1,750 yen ($11.90), including tax. A limited production run of 730 bottles will be sold at four locations: at the liquor shop Espoa Hirokawaya in the city and three JA Nishi-Tokyo stores.
AloJapan.com