Enjoy all the magic of Yamanashi, with Japanese wine
Everyone know Japan for its production of Sake, alcoolic beverage made from rice, but we hardly think at Japan as a wine producer. Actually the Yamanashi prefecture, about a couple of hours from Tokyo, is an area where not only excellent native wine is produced, Koshu, but also different types of wines obtained from the import of European grape varieties, such as Merlot or the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wines made from Koshu grapes, a variety unique to Japan, are attracting attention for their elegance, refreshing flavor and perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. International varieties such as Chardonnay are grown in Japan too, and over the past decade, cultivation methods better suited to the local climate have brought a huge improvement in grape quality. Another factor contributing to the improvement in wine quality is that more winemakers are studying the craft overseas.
Yamanashi Prefecture is Japan’s top wine region and the birthplace of Japanese winemaking. It has been producing wine for around 150 years, and currently produces around 30% of all wine made in Japan. The prefecture currently has more than 80 wineries, including five major firms and a great variety of smaller wineries, so if you are curious to learn about Japanese wines, you could do a lot worse than head for Yamanashi.
Wines made from Koshu grapes, a variety unique to Japan, are attracting attention for their elegance, refreshing flavor and perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. International varieties such as Chardonnay are grown in Japan too, and over the past decade, cultivation methods better suited to the local climate have brought a huge improvement in grape quality. Another factor contributing to the improvement in wine quality is that more winemakers are studying the craft overseas.
Yamanashi Prefecture is Japan’s top wine region and the birthplace of Japanese winemaking. It has been producing wine for around 150 years, and currently produces around 30% of all wine made in Japan. The prefecture currently has more than 80 wineries, including five major firms and a great variety of smaller wineries, so if you are curious to learn about Japanese wines, you could do a lot worse than head for Yamanashi.