Umeshu aka plum wine making season

This year, June 11th is Plum Wine Day 梅酒の日 in Japan. The date changes sometimes, because it is on the same date as "nyubai" the traditional start of the rainy season which changes as it is decided by the solar calendar. More often than not it is on either June 10th or June 11th.

This is also when plum harvesting begins across the country and the yearly umeshu‑making season naturally opens. It is not only made by companies, but some people also make their own Plum Wine from the Japanese plum they harvested from their own trees. We have just one ume tree, but we harvest hundreds of plum from it each year. We only keep about a hundred for ourselves and give the rest to family, friends and neighbors who either make plum wine or ume jam from it.

The "Plum Wine Day" anniversary was established by Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd., a leading producer of umeshu and plum‑based products. They created the anniversary to encourage more people to enjoy the depth and refreshing sweetness of high‑quality umeshu. It also carries a seasonal wish: that drinking umeshu during the humid early‑summer period will help people stay energized and comfortable as they move toward midsummer.