RELATIONSHIPS
Distinguishing Japanese wine, geographical indication, and GI labeling: a comparative perspective
Read geography, grape resources, and production processes separately.
Japanese Wine
Grapes harvested within the country and domestically made
Place name display
Confirming more than 85% and production area
GI
Check individual criteria and the supervisory body
This is a schematic diagram summarizing the main text. It does not represent production areas or quality rankings. Sources and reference materials
FIELD NOTE 01
Japanese wine is a subset of domestically produced wine
Domestically produced wine is a broad category referring to wine made in the country. Among these, those using only grapes harvested domestically and meeting official production method requirements are called Japan Wine. Distinguish these from domestically produced wines made with imported concentrated grape juice. Read the labelling standards applied since October 30, 2018, not by the impression of the country name but by the ingredients section as well.
FIELD NOTE 02
Each: place name, grape, and year have separate requirements.
A place name generally means that at least 85% of the grapes harvested in that area are used. If winemaking occurs outside the area, the label must read "Grapes from ⟦N⟧," etc. For Japanese wine, a single-varietal must be at least 85%, or if two main varieties, their sum exceeds 85%—listed in order of predominance. For three or more varieties, the proportions must also be specified. The vintage also requires at least 85% of the grapes from that year. These 85% rules must not be consolidated into a single percentage.
FIELD NOTE 03
Confirm the Individual Production Standards for Each GI
As of the confirmation timing, GIs exist for Yamanashi, Hokkaido, Yamagata, Nagano, and Osaka. Each GI sets criteria for source region, variety, production, and confirmation by a management body. For example, GI Yamanashi requires only grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture and production within the prefecture. Merely meeting general geographic labeling does not fulfill GI usage requirements. Also, the GI system is not intended to rank wines by preference or price based solely on its presence or absence.
Cannot claim. In addition to using only prefecture-grown grapes as required for GI Yamanashi, there are also requirements for methods and verification procedures.
PAUSE & REFLECT
Check your understanding.
If the grapes are 90% from Yamanashi, is that alone enough to use the GI Yamanashi designation?
Read the explanation ＋
Cannot claim. In addition to using only prefecture-grown grapes as required for GI Yamanashi, there are also requirements for methods and verification procedures.
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Sources and reference materials
These are the reference materials for the main text. For details of production regulations, consult the current documents. For individual wine specifications, refer to materials for the relevant vintage.
- National Tax Agency: Fruit wine and similar production method and quality labeling standards ↗
- National Tax Agency: Status of geographical indication designations ↗
- National Tax Agency: GI Yamanashi production standards ↗