November 1, 2021. Yokohama Winery has entered its fifth year of brewing.
Looking back, it was November 1st, four years ago. The fruit wine production license we received the day before was posted on the wall, Kyoho grapes were delivered, and winemaking began in a hurry. The commemorative wine was a red Kyoho grape wine with the title "Before Dawn," with only 50 bottles released. It was a tense and exciting time, as we were just about to make it in time for the already scheduled sale at the Yokohama Marché. 1,461 mornings have passed since then, and this tense and exciting time has become a daily routine. And it will continue in the future.
Well, now that I'm in my fifth season of winemaking, my skills have been polished. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that I'm now able to make wine with confidence. What I've been consistent with since the beginning is "listening to the voice of the grapes." Wine is a miraculous liquid brewed by living organisms. I can't produce two wines with the same aroma and flavor. The subtle differences make conversation with customers more interesting...yes! Maybe it's a magical liquid. I've recently come to feel this way.
In the midst of the daily suspense and excitement, somehow something good always happens through new encounters. The story of how I got from a world unrelated to winemaking to where I am today is the result of the accumulation of these days. I can't tell you everything in the limited number of characters, so please ask me when you meet me. That encounter is surely some kind of fate. A miraculous chemical reaction may occur.
Well, the second half of the 2021 winemaking season is finally here. This season, I followed the voices of many grapes who said, "Make it with natural yeast!" I also kept the antioxidants to a minimum, so the wine is becoming softer and more gentle in flavor.
I will continue to work hard on winemaking, drawing on my gratitude to all the people I have met over the past four years who have supported me with courage and encouragement. I hope you will continue to support Hama Wine in its fifth year.
Yokohama Winery Representative Yoshiko Machida
