A special auction for Ruby Roman grapes took place for the tenth straight year, and this traditional bidding war at the Kagaya Ryokan hotel has raised some eyebrows because of the sheer amount that people are willing to pay for these special grapes. In August 2008, the first Ruby Roman grapes were sold for 100,000 Japanese yen, or about $910 at that time, for a bunch weighing a pound and a half. In July 2016, a single bunch of Ruby Roman grapes, with 26 grapes and a weight of around a pound and a half, was sold for an astonishing 1.1 million Japanese yen, or over $10,000 at that time. What makes these grapes so special? Well, each grape is individually certified according to strict quality standards.
