[Yamagata Prefecture] 10 wineries in northern Yamagata Prefecture! Taste the wine produced by Mt. Gassan, Zao, and the Sea of Japan!

Daiwa Consilio
2022.08.31
Last updated: 2024.07.9

table of contents

1 Asahi Town Wine (Asahi Town)
- 1.1 Meister Selection Late Harvest Muscat Bailey A (Rosé: Muscat Bailey A 100%)
2 Gassan Toraya Winery (Nishikawa Town)
- 2.1 Meister Selection Late Harvest Muscat Bailey A (Rosé: Muscat Bailey A 100%)
3 Higashine Fruit Wine (Higashine City)
- 3.1 Cherry Sato Nishiki (100% Sato Nishiki)
4 Tendo Wine (Tendo City)
- 4.1 Yamagata Chardonnay (White: 100% Chardonnay)
5 Takeda Winery (Kamiyama City)
- 5.1 Chateau Takeda Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot (Red: 80% Cabernet, 20% Merlot)
6 Woody Farm & Winery (Kamiyama City)
- 6.1 Petit Manseng 2019 Moreu (White: 100% Petit Manseng)
7 Bellwood Vineyard (Kamiyama City)
- 7.1 2020 Terce Collection Superior (Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc)
8 HOCCA Winery (Tsuruoka City)
- 8.1 HOCCA Pinot Gris (White: 100% Pinot Gris)
9 Gassan Wine Mountain Grape Research Institute (Tsuruoka City)
- 9.1 Gassan Wine Mountain Wine (Red: 100% Mountain Grape)
10 Pino Collina Farm Garden & Winery Matsugaoka (Tsuruoka City)
- 10.1 FrouFrou2020 FrouFrou (White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)
11 summary
12 Articles on wineries in Tohoku and other prefectures

Yamagata Prefecture has many basins suitable for growing grapes and has the largest number of wineries among the six prefectures of Tohoku, and the number of new wineries has increased in recent years in the Murayama region in the north of the prefecture.

In addition, Tsuruoka City in the Shonai region has also seen an increase in new arrivals and is calling itself a wine-producing region.

Asahi Town Wine (Asahi Town)

Founded in 1944, after the war they continued to make wine under contract to major companies, and in 1973 they started producing their own wine. The company name was changed in 1990, and the company is working on wine making for the entire town.

High sugar content Muscat Bailey A and Chardonnay are grown on the clay slopes on both banks of the Mogami River. Red, white, and rosé wines are aged at low temperatures to bring out their fruit flavors.

Meister Selection Late Harvest Muscat Bailey A (Rosé: Muscat Bailey A 100%)

It was brewed using late harvested grapes with increased sugar content and fruit flavor, and was aged at a low temperature by soaking the fruit juice and skin. It has a sweet and gorgeous fruit aroma and a refreshing acidity.

Information

Facility name: Asahicho Wine
Address: 1080 Otani Takano, Asahi-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0237-68-2611
URL: Asahi Town Wine

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Gassan Toraya Winery (Nishikawa Town)

Toraya Sake Brewery, which has been in business since the Edo period, began making wine in 1982 and continues to produce locally produced Japanese wine for local consumption using grapes from its own farm and local farmers.

Meister Selection Late Harvest Muscat Bailey A (Rosé: Muscat Bailey A 100%)

Muscat Bailey A, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are brewed here, but the Merlot is especially popular.

Information

Facility name: Gassan Toraya Winery
Address: 79 Yoshikawa, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0237-74-4315
URL: Gassan Toraya Winery

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Higashine Fruit Wine (Higashine City)

Established in 2016, we make wines using 100% local fruits such as cherry, pear, peach, and apple wines, as well as contract winemaking.

There are eight types of Muscat Bailey A, including red and rosé, but the most popular is the fruit wine made only from the high-quality Sato Nishiki cherry, which is produced only at this winery.

Cherry Sato Nishiki (100% Sato Nishiki)

The 500ml bottle contains 1.2kg of fully ripened Sato Nishiki, and has a gorgeous rose color, refreshing acidity, and a mellow richness.

Information

Facility name: Higashine Fruit Wine
Address: 39-1 Hirabayashi, Oeshinden, Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0237-38-9014
URL: Higashine Fruit Wine

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Tendo Wine (Tendo City)

The long-established liquor store was established in 1984 with the aim of producing wine that makes use of local grapes. In addition to grapes, LaFrance and cherry wines are also made.

There are 21 varieties of white, red, and rosé, including native varieties grown by contract farmers such as Yama Sauvignon and Muscat Bailey A, as well as European varieties such as Chardonnay and Merlot.

Yamagata Chardonnay (White: 100% Chardonnay)

Brewed with local Chardonnay and aged in a bottle, it has a mild flavor with a strong fruit aroma and refreshing acidity.

Information

Facility name: Tendo Wine
Address: 99 Takagenminami, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0236-55-5151
URL: Tendo Wine

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Takeda Winery (Kamiyama City)

We have been making wine at the foot of Zao since 1920, and it took its current form in 1975.

We are working on ambitious wine making, such as changing the soil of our own fields to slightly alkaline over 20 years.

In addition to red, white, and sparkling wines produced by Takeda Winery, which uses grapes from contract farmers, and Domaine Takeda, which produces grapes from our own vineyard, we also have red and white wines from our flagship Chateau Takeda.

Chateau Takeda Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot (Red: 80% Cabernet, 20% Merlot)

This wine is brewed using only carefully selected fruits in a dedicated field with good soil and old trees, and is a masterpiece that allows you to enjoy the elegant aroma and profound feeling of aging in oak barrels.

Information

Facility name: Takeda Winery
Address: 2-6-1 Yotsuya, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0236-72-0040
URL: Takeda Winery

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Woody Farm & Winery (Kamiyama City)

We are a domaine-style winery that uses 100% grapes grown in our own fields, and began brewing in 2013. We also sell poelet (pear sparkling wine), dried fruits, and jam.

Four varieties of red wine and four white wine varieties are grown here, but the most recommended is the Petit Manseng grape, which is rare in Japan.

Petit Manseng 2019 Moreu (White: 100% Petit Manseng)

Because the sugar content is extremely high, fermentation does not finish within a year, and even when the alcohol content is raised to 14 degrees, the sweetness of the sugar remains, and the sourness gives it a rich flavor.

Information

Facility name: Woody Farm & Winery
Address: 829 Haraguchi, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0236-74-2343
URL: Woody Farm & Winery

Google Map

Bellwood Vineyard (Kamiyama City)

This is a small winery that rented a field through the "Kaminoyama Wine Village Project", raised funds through crowdfunding, planted grapes in 2017, and began brewing and selling in the fall of 2020.

Three types of red and three types of white are cultivated with love in the company's fields, and I'm looking forward to the wine that will be brewed in a few years when the yield increases.

2020 Terce Collection Superior (Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc)

Carefully selected local grapes are aged for 13 months in barrels, and the scent of red fruits is added to the aroma of the barrels, and the smooth acidity and fine-grained tannins give it a mellow, deep flavor.

Information

Facility name: Bellwood Vineyard
Address: 4414-1 Kubote, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0236-74-6020
URL: Bellwood Vineyard

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HOCCA Winery (Tsuruoka City)

Ou Jiman, a long-established sake brewery dating back to 1724, began growing grapes and producing wine in 2017. "HOCCA" is a brand name taken from "Hokkamuri".

In 2020, the harvest of two white varieties and three red varieties increased, and each was made individually. All of them have a slight ginjo aroma, probably due to the sake yeast in the sake brewery.

HOCCA Pinot Gris (White: 100% Pinot Gris)

A golden white wine with a strong fruit flavor and aroma. Of the 5 single products released, this and the red Syrah are still on sale.

Information

Facility name: HOCCA Winery
Address: 123 Kamiyamazoe Shinmeimae, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 050-3385-0347
URL: HOCCA Winery

Google Map

Gassan Wine Mountain Grape Research Institute (Tsuruoka City)

This winery started brewing in 1980 by an agricultural cooperative in Shonai, and uses snow shades for storage.

There are two types of red grape hybrids, and white varieties such as Koshu, all of which are grown by nearby farmers. Starting with rosé, we now sell a variety of red, white, and slightly sparkling wines. As the name of the facility suggests, red wine made from wild grape hybrids is popular.

Gassan Wine Mountain Wine (Red: 100% Mountain Grape)

Information

Facility name: Gassan Wine Mountain Grape Research Institute
Address: 3-1 Etchu Yamanadaira, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0235-53-2789
URL: Gassan Wine Mountain Grape Research Institute

Google Map

Pino Collina Farm Garden & Winery Matsugaoka (Tsuruoka City)

This is a young winery that started planting grapes in 2017 and opened in 2020. You can enjoy wine at our restaurant in the middle of our vineyard or while having a picnic in the field.

Three types of trees, including white Chardonnay and five types, including red Gewurztraminer, have been planted in the field, and new varieties of wine are introduced every year.

FrouFrou2020 FrouFrou (White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)

In the first vintage, "frou frou" is the French word for clothes. It has a smoky aroma, a sweet and creamy aroma, and a refreshing taste.

Information

Facility name: Pino Collina Farm Garden & Winery Matsugaoka
Address: 156-2 Matsugaoka, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0235-26-7807
URL: Pino Collina Farm Garden & Winery Matsugaoka

Google Map

summary

The northern part of the prefecture is home to the ``Kaminoyama Wine Special Zone,'' and there are many applicants for new operations, and both Shonai and I are looking forward to the emergence of unique wines in the future.