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Top 10 wineries in northern Yamagata! Taste wines brewed by Mt. Gassan, Zao, and the Sea of ​​Japan!

Yamagata Prefecture has many basins suitable for grape cultivation and has the most wineries of the six Tohoku prefectures, and in recent years the number of new wineries has increased in the Murayama region in the north of the prefecture

Tsuruoka City in the Shonai region is also seeing an increase in new visitors and is making a name for itself as a wine-producing region

Asahimachi Wine (Asahimachi)

Founded in 1944, the company continued to produce wine as a subcontractor for major companies after the war, and began producing its own wine in 1973. The company changed its name in 1990, and has been working on winemaking with the whole town in mind

High-sugar grapes such as Muscat Bailey A and Chardonnay are grown on the clayey slopes on both sides of the Mogami River. Red, white, and rosé wines are aged at low temperatures to bring out the fruity flavors

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

This wine is made using late-harvested grapes that have increased sugar content and fruit flavor, and is aged at low temperatures by soaking the juice and skins.The result is a dry wine with a sweet and gorgeous fruit aroma and a refreshing acidity

Information

  • Facility name: Asahimachi Wine
  • Address: 1080 Otani Takano, Asahi-machi, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0237-68-2611
  • URL: Asahimachi Wine

Google Map

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 using grapes from its own farm and local farmers

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

Muscat Bailey A, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and other grapes are produced here, but Merlot is particularly 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　

Google Map

Higashine Fruit Wine (Higashine City)

Founded in 2016, the company produces wines made from 100% locally grown fruits, including the prefecture's famous cherries, pears, peaches, and apples, and also undertakes contract brewing

There are eight varieties available, including red and rosé Muscat Bailey A, but the most popular is the fruit wine made exclusively with the high-quality Sato Nishiki cherries, which are only produced at this winery

Sato Nishiki Cherries (100% Sato Nishiki)

Each 500ml bottle contains 1.2kg of fully ripe Sato Nishiki cherries, giving it a gorgeous rose colour, a 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

Google Map

Tendo Wine (Tendo City)

Established in 1984, this long-established liquor store aims to make wine using local grapes. In addition to grapes, they also produce wines using La France pears and cherries

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

Yamagata Chardonnay (white: 100% Chardonnay)

Made with local Chardonnay and bottle-aged, it has a mild flavor with a strong fruit aroma and refreshing acidity

Information

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

Google Map

Takeda Winery (Kaminoyama City)

We have been making wine at the foot of Mt. Zao since 1920, and have been in our current form since 1975

The winery is committed to ambitious winemaking, having spent 20 years making the soil in its own vineyards slightly alkaline

In addition to red, white, and sparkling wines from the Takeda Winery brand, which uses grapes from contracted farmers, and the Domaine Takeda brand, which uses grapes from its own vineyards, the company also offers red and white wines from its flagship Chateau Takeda brand

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

This wine is made from only carefully selected fruit in a dedicated plot of land with good soil and old vines, and is a masterpiece that offers an elegant aroma and rich flavor thanks to oak barrel aging

Information

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

Google Map

Woody Farm & Winery (Kaminoyama City)

This domaine-style winery uses 100% grapes grown in its own vineyards and began brewing in 2013. They also sell poiret (sparkling pear wine), dried fruit jams, and more

Four varieties of red and four varieties of white wine are grown here, but we particularly recommend Petit Manseng, a grape that is rare in Japan

Petit Manseng 2019 Moirée (white: 100% Petit Manseng)

Because the sugar content is so high, fermentation does not complete in one year, and even when the alcohol content is increased to 14%, the sweetness of the sugar remains, and it has a rich flavor with a hint of acidity

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 (Kaminoyama City)

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

Three varieties of red grapes and three varieties of white grapes are lovingly cultivated in their own vineyards, and we look forward to the wines that will be produced in a few years when the yields increase

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

Carefully selected locally grown grapes are aged in barrels for 13 months, giving the wine a deep, rich flavor with a red fruit aroma and a toasty oak finish. The smooth acidity and finely textured tannins give it a mellow aroma

Information

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

Google Map

HOCCA Winery (Tsuruoka City)

Ouu Jiman, a long-established sake brewery established in 1724, began growing grapes and brewing wine in 2017. The brand name "HOCCA" is derived from the Japanese word for "headband."

In 2020, the harvest was higher for two white wines and three red wines, each of which was produced individually. Perhaps due to the sake yeast used in the brewery, each wine has a subtle ginjo aroma

HOCCA Pinot Gris (white: 100% Pinot Gris)

This is a golden-colored white wine with a strong fruit flavor and a fragrant aroma. Of the five individual wines released, this and the red Syrah are still available

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 and Mountain Grape Research Institute (Tsuruoka City)

This winery began brewing in 1980 through the Shonai Agricultural Cooperative and uses snow shades for storage

The red wines are made with two wild grape hybrids, while the white wines include Koshu and other varieties, all grown on farms in the surrounding area. Starting with rosé, they now sell a wide variety of red, white, and slightly sparkling wines. As the name of the facility suggests, the wild grape hybrid red wine is the most popular

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

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

Information

Google Map

Pino Collina Farm Garden & Winery Matsugaoka (Tsuruoka City)

This young winery began planting grapes in 2017 and opened in 2020. You can enjoy wine at the restaurant in the middle of their own vineyards or while picnicking in the fields

The vineyards are planted with five varieties of grapes, including three types of white Chardonnay and five types of red Gewurztraminer, and new varieties of wine are introduced every year

FrouFrou2020 FrouFrou (White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)

This is the first vintage, and "Frou-Frou" means "clothed" in French. It has a smoky aroma and a sweet, creamy scent, and a refreshing taste

Information

Google Map

summary

In the northern part of the prefecture, there is the Kaminoyama Wine Special Zone, where many people are hoping to start new businesses, and we look forward to seeing the emergence of unique wines in the future, both in Shonai and elsewhere

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