December 25, 2019
Yokohama Winery (head office: Yokohama Winery Co., Ltd., Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama), the only fruit liquor brewery in the prefecture that specializes in Japanese wine, will release the first Japanese wine brewed in the prefecture using 100% wine grapes grown in the prefecture (Kanagawa Wine, 3,500 yen excluding tax; 750 ml) on January 11, 2020, and is currently accepting reservations.
Yokohama Winery is an urban winery without an orchard that opened in Yokohama in 2017. Until now, there was almost no wine grape cultivation in the prefecture, so they mainly purchased grapes from all over the country and brewed and sold Japanese wine in Yokohama. In the past few years, producers have started cultivating wine grapes, and in the 2019 season, they were able to ship a small amount of fruit.
This time, wine grapes were provided by two producers in Sagamihara and Kawasaki. The grape varieties include Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Since the production is limited, the wines will be released individually or as blends, but a total of 80 bottles will be numbered and released, making this the first vintage of this precious Kanagawa wine.
Kentoku Moriyama of Yasakao Farm Co., Ltd. (head office: Minami-ku, Sagamihara), which cultivates grapes in Sagamihara City, is enthusiastic about expansion, saying, "We started growing grapes on a trial and error basis, with the desire to bring a wine culture to Kanagawa. Next year we plan to expand the scale and increase the yield. We would love for everyone to try the wine we make from grapes from the first harvest."
Additionally, Mitsugu Yamada of Carnaest Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Asao Ward, Kawasaki City), which handles cultivation in Kawasaki City, hinted at the potential of urban agriculture, saying, "We started cultivating wine grapes in 2015 with the desire to bring nature into the city and create attractive, dreamy agriculture. Cultivation in an urban environment is a constant process of trial and error, but we hope that through wine people will reconsider agriculture."
While domestic alcohol consumption has remained flat, wine consumption has been expanding in recent years. As some "Japanese wines" made from 100% domestic grapes have been highly praised overseas, the "Standards for Labeling the Manufacturing Method and Quality of Fruit Wines, etc. (Notification of the National Tax Agency)" came into effect in October 2018 to clearly distinguish between Japanese wines and other wines.
Kanagawa Prefecture has surpassed Yamanashi Prefecture to become the number one producer of wine in Japan. However, the production of grapes for wine is almost zero. This is because the production volume of one major manufacturer's factory, which uses fruit juice from overseas and raw materials from other prefectures, accounts for almost 100% of the production volume. In response to the recent boom in Japanese wine, the prefecture is gradually beginning to take on the challenge of cultivating grapes for wine.
Machida Yoshiko, representative of Yokohama Winery, said, "Although many table grapes have been produced in the prefecture, this has proven that the prefecture's wine grapes also have plenty of potential for use in wine. If we can find varieties and cultivation methods that suit the local climate, we hope that this may pave the way for new agritourism in the prefecture."
The day may come in the near future when wine grapes produced in Kanagawa Prefecture will play a role in increasing the number of tourists from overseas and improving the prefecture's low food self-sufficiency rate.
<How to purchase the "Kanagawa Fruit Wine Workshop
" series >
Reservations are now being accepted at Yokohama Winery (tel: 045-228-9713).
＜Product Details＞
Kanagawa Fruit Wine Factory Pinot Noir 2019
Japanese wine, fruit wine, dry, ingredients (100% Pinot Noir from Kanagawa Prefecture), volume 750ml, alcohol content 11.5%
Kanagawa Fruit Wine Factory Red Noir 2019
Japanese wine, fruit wine, dry, ingredients (100% Harmonoire Bijou Noir from Kanagawa Prefecture), volume 750ml, alcohol content 8.5%
| <Inquiries regarding this matter>
Yokohama Winery Manager: Yoshiko Machida
TEL 090-3960-1522 (Mobile)
Email: ask@yokohamawinery.com
1-3-12 Shinyamashita, Naka Ward, Yokohama City
Tel: 045-228-9713 |
