[Fukushima] Hidden gems! The charm of wine born from Fukushima's rich natural environment

When people think of famous wine-producing regions in Japan, many probably picture prefectures like Yamanashi, Yamagata, and Nagano.
But did you know that wine is also produced and grapes for wine are cultivated in Fukushima Prefecture?
This time, I'd like to introduce some wines that you should definitely try if you visit Fukushima.

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[Niitsuru Chardonnay] Chateau Mercian

This is a high-quality white wine made from grapes grown in the Niitsuru area (Aizu region).
According to Chateau Mercian's materials, the Niitsuru area, with its sunny and well-drained hillsides, is suitable for grape cultivation, and Chardonnay, a grape variety used for white wine, has been cultivated there for a relatively long time. However, the grapes were often damaged by the heavy rainfall in autumn. Through the efforts of the farmers, who installed their own rain-sheltering equipment, they were able to protect the grapes and produce high-quality grapes.

The Niitsuru Chardonnay 2015 pictured here is, of course, 100% Chardonnay from the Niitsuru region. While only about 6,750 bottles were produced, the mellow, rich flavor and aroma are truly mellow. This is a bottle we recommend to wine lovers

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INFORMATION

URL	http://www.chateaumercian.com/wines/district/niitsuru_chardonnay.html

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[Ikkei] Fukushima Farmers' Dream Wine

"Fukushima Farmers' Dream Wine" is a small winery that started with a group of farmers in Nihonmatsu City planting grapevines on abandoned farmland, driven by their dream of revitalizing the region through grapes.
As they have only been planting grapes for six years, they cannot produce many varieties or quantities yet, but they did produce some unique, handcrafted wines last year.

"Ikkei" is a wine made from 100% Yama Sauvignon (a cross between wild grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon) grown in the Tozawa district of Nihonmatsu City
This is an easy-to-drink medium-bodied wine that combines the flavor of Cabernet, a typical red wine variety, with the wild taste of wild grapes
You can buy them at roadside stations like Fukushima Towa and Adachi Chieko no Sato. However, there are only a few of them, so you'll be lucky if you manage to find one!

INFORMATION

name	Fukushima Farmers' Dream Wine Co., Ltd
address	181-1 Shiraishi, Kobata, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 964-0203
telephone number	0243-24-8170
GOOGLE MAP

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Bailey A Red Wine (Aizu) - Wine Workshop Aizu

Aizu Wine Studio is a small winery located in Inawashiro.
Its most distinctive feature is its use of glass barrels for fermentation and aging. You can see rows of glass barrels like this inside the winery.

Wines made using this method have a clean, crisp taste because they contain no ingredients other than fruit. You can fully enjoy the flavor of grapes from Fukushima Prefecture.
We recommend the red wine made with Bailey A, a unique Japanese wine grape variety cultivated in Aizu. It has a gorgeous aroma and a refreshing taste. This wine was even served at the luncheon of the 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting held in 2015.

Another must-try is the wine made from wild grapes grown at the foot of Mount Bandai in the local town of Inawashiro. Wild grapes are rich in iron and polyphenols

At Wine Studio Aizu, you can tour the workshop without making a reservation. However, reservations are required for groups of 10 or more people

INFORMATION

name	Honda Winery Ltd. Wine Studio Aizu
address	3-7 Chiyoda, Inawashiro-machi, Yama-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-3133
telephone number	0242-62-5500
URL	http://www.hondawinery.co.jp/
Opening hours	10:00-18:00 (until 17:00 during winter) Closed: Mondays and irregular holidays
GOOGLE MAP

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Fukushima wine is becoming even more exciting

Thanks to the efforts of producers, the quality of Fukushima wines is steadily improving.
If you haven't tried them yet, you should definitely give them a try! You'll really get a sense of the richness of Fukushima's food culture.

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