Japan
Approaching Japan through geography and winemaking.
From Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, travel to cool Hokkaido, the inland basin, and warm Kyushu. Follow cultivation adaptations for rain and the choices of producers to learn about the breadth of Japanese wine.
You can study geography, grape varieties, appellations, and winemaking in sequence. Knowledge gained from articles can be verified through exercises comparing regions and styles.
Grasp the location of the region.
- Yamanashi: Differentiating Koshu from the Kofu Basin Honshu, inland
- Nagano: An Overview of the Five Wine Valleys Honshu, inland
- Hokkaido: Coolness and adaptation for winter survival Hokkaido
- Yamagata: Region for fruit production and wine grape growing Honshu - Tohoku
- Niigata: Tracing the history of breeding from Joetsu Honshu, Sea of Japan side
- Osaka: Viticulture in Kawachi and the GI Honshu - Kinki
- Kyushu: Understanding the adaptations of warm-climate areas from Tsuno Kyushu / Miyazaki
Choose from articles
Japan overview
Rethinking Japanese wine through topography and viticulture
If you remember Japan as a single rainy region, you lose sight of the differences between Hokkaidō and Kyūshū, or between inland basins and coastal areas. I want to consider latitude, altitude, topography, and cultivation techniques adapted to rain and cold.
Japanese wine labelling
Distinguish between Japanese wine, geographical indication, and GI labeling
The order for reading labels is: "Is this Japanese wine?", "What is the place name?", "Is it GI?" Even if you see the same name, the required percentage of ingredients and production conditions may differ.
Koshu and Muscat Bailey A
Broaden the range of varieties from Koshu and Bailey A
After reviewing Japan’s flagship grape varieties, I want to be able to trace which vineyard the grape came from and what processes it went through. Koshu is not fixed as just one style of white, nor is Muscat Bailey A limited to one light red style.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi: Differentiating Koshu from the Kofu Basin
In the Kōfu Basin and surrounding areas, the landscape encircled by mountains, temperature differences between day and night, and drainage on slopes are clues for understanding viticultural conditions. Imagine the vineyards of Katsunuma while tracing the growing conditions for Kōshū and the use of lees and barrels.
Nagano
Nagano: An Overview of the Five Wine Valleys
The Shinshu Wine Valley can be organized into five regions: Kikyogahara, Chikumagawa, Japan Alps, Tenryugawa, and the western foot of Yatsugatake. Check the locations of these five and the production conditions set by GI Nagano for each.
Hokkaido
Hokkaido: Coolness and adaptation for winter survival
First, place Shiribeshi (including Yoichi), Sorachi (including Iwamizawa), Kamikawa (which has Furano), and Tokachi (home to Ikeda Town) in Hokkaido. Compare cultivation in Yoichi and variety selection in Ikeda, considering both ripening conditions and preparations for winter.
Yamagata
Yamagata: Region for fruit production and wine grape growing
In Yamagata, there are vineyards in inland basins and at the foot of mountains. Do not characterize the whole prefecture by the Japan Sea coastal climate—check grape selections and GI conditions for each growing area.
Niigata
Niigata: Tracing the history of breeding from Joetsu
In Niigata, starting from the Iwanohara Vineyard in Joetsu, we want to trace the breeding work of Zenbei Kawakami. Follow how the varieties selected through breeding are used in today’s Zenbei blends.
Osaka
Osaka: Viticulture in Kawachi and the GI
In Osaka, start with the Kawachi area such as Kashiwara, Habikino, and Taishi Town. Use a map to locate the vineyards of Kawachi and read about the winemaking of Delaware, also known as a table grape.
Kyushu and Tsuno
Kyushu: Understanding the adaptations of warm-climate areas from Tsuno
Use Tsuno in Miyazaki Prefecture as an entry point for studying wines of Kyushu. From Tsuno's cultivation records, consider vineyard management to prepare for rain and typhoons and the selection of varieties.
Koshu sur lie
Kōshū Sur Lie: Interpreting contact with lees
Using Lumière Koshu Sur Lie 2024 as an example, consider separately the characteristics of the variety and the aging process. Contact with lees is a separate choice from skin maceration or barrel aging.
Iwanohara Zenbei 2022
Zenbei 2022: Three varieties and new oak/old oak
Simply stating 'Muscat Bailey A-based' does not convey the full design of this red wine. Read the ratios of the three varieties alongside the specific barrel types used for each.
Growing grapes in rain
Measures for rain: canopies and vineyard drainage
Dealing with rain does not end with installing a single piece of equipment. Consider separately the measures to keep grape clusters dry and the drainage of water from the vineyard.
Major topics of study are selected and included. This is not an encyclopedia listing every appellation, variety, or producer.