[Yamagata Prefecture] 7 wineries that you can visit, experience, and sample in Yamagata, the wine kingdom of Tohoku!

Yamagata Prefecture, the number one wine kingdom in Tohoku, has a variety of wineries located throughout the prefecture.

This time, we will introduce some trivia about wine in Yamagata Prefecture, as well as wineries where you can tour breweries, experience wine making, and sample wines!

Tohoku's premier wine producing region

Yamagata Prefecture is surrounded by mountains such as the Ou Mountains and the Dewa Mountains, and has an abundance of sloping terrain suitable for grape cultivation. Yamagata, which is also a rice-producing region, has a successful division of crop cultivation, with rice grown on the plains and grapes grown on the plains, which are unsuitable for paddy fields, and on the slopes in the mountains.

The sloping topography and good drainage give the grapes the right amount of water stress, making it possible to grow grapes with small grains and concentrated flavor.

Another advantage is that there are many sunny days during the grape growing season from April to October, and the average monthly temperature during the harvest period is cool, with a large temperature difference between day and night.

It can be seen from various numbers that Yamagata Prefecture is the number one wine producing area in Tohoku.

Ranked 4th in the country in terms of grape production!

It also boasts one of the largest production volumes in Japan of grapes, the raw material for wine.

Grape production (2021 – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – Crop statistical survey )

• 1st place: Yamanashi Prefecture – 40,600t
• 2nd place: Nagano Prefecture – 28,800t
• 3rd place: Okayama Prefecture – 15,100t
• 4th place: Yamagata Prefecture – 14,600t
• 5th place: Fukuoka Prefecture – 6,910t

In 2020, it was ranked 3rd in the nation, but in 2021 it was surpassed by Okayama Prefecture and ranked 4th in the nation. The production volume is comparable to that of Okayama Prefecture, so they may be competing with each other every year!

The number of wineries is No. 1 in the Tohoku region and No. 4 in Japan!

The number of wineries that actually brew and produce wine from grapes is also the number one in the Tohoku region and the fourth in the country.

Number of wineries by prefecture (2021 – National Tax Agency – Number of wineries by prefecture )

• 1st place: Yamanashi Prefecture – 92
• 2nd place: Nagano Prefecture – 62
• 3rd place: Hokkaido – 46
• 4th place: Yamagata Prefecture – 19
• 5th place: Iwate Prefecture – 11

Iwate prefecture ranks in 5th place! However, there are still nearly twice as many wineries in Yamagata Prefecture.

7 wineries you can tour in Yamagata Prefecture!

We will introduce 7 wineries in Yamagata Prefecture where you can tour wineries, experience wine making, and sample wine!

By the way, almost all wineries require advance reservations for tours, so please check the official website for details.

Takeda Winery

A winery in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. You can tour our own grape farm and manufacturing factory.

*Reservation required

Takeda Winery <Information>

• Name: Takeda Winery
• Address: 2-6-1 Yotsuya, Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture 999-3162
• Phone number: 0236-72-0040
• URL: http://www.takeda-wine.co.jp/

Google Map

Asahi Town Wine

A tourist winery in Asahi Town, Yamagata Prefecture. You can watch the bottling process and sample wine and brandy.

Asahi Town Wine＜Information＞

• Name: Asahi Town Wine
• Address: 1080 Otani Takano, Asahi-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata 990-1304
• Phone number: 0237-68-2611
• URL: https://asahimachi-wine.jp/

Google Map

Tendo wine

A winery located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture.

The free factory tour takes about 45 minutes and includes a mini-course that includes an explanation of the wine manufacturing process, a lecture on how to drink wine, how to taste it, and tastings of about 5 different types. Reservations can be made for groups of 10 to 30 people.

*Tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Reservation required

Tendo Wine＜Information＞

• Name: Tendo Wine
• Address: 99 Takagenminami, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture 994-0068
• Phone number: 0236-55-5151
• URL: https://www.tendowine.co.jp/

Google Map

Gassan Toraya Winery

A winery located in Nishikawa-cho, Yamagata Prefecture. Tours are free, but reservations are required. Please contact us in advance for available viewing dates and times.

*Reservation required

Gassan Toraya Winery <Information>

• Name: Gassan Toraya Winery
• Address: 79 Yoshikawa, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata 990-0711
• Phone number: 0237-74-4315
• URL: https://wine.chiyokotobuki.com/

Google Map

Higashine City Fruit Wine

A winery located in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture. You can tour and sample the Higashine Fruit Wine Research Institute.

*Reservation required

Higashine City Fruit Wine <Information>

• Name: Higashine Fruit Wine
• Address: 39-1 Oeshinden, Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, 999-3723
• Phone number: 0237-38-9014
• URL: https://www.h-fruitwine.com/

Google Map

Sudo Wine Factory

This is a family-run winery located in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture.

At our own farm, Shikinen, you can pick grapes from early August to mid-October, and from mid-August to early October, you can try your hand at making wine using the grapes you harvested yourself.

*Reservation required

Sudo Wine Factory＜Information＞

• Name: Sudo Wine Shikinen
• Address: 2836 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture 999-2211
• Phone number: 0238-43-2578
• URL: Stay and enjoy Nanyo – The only wine making experience in the world

Google Map

Takahata Winery

The largest tourist winery in Tohoku, located in Takahata Town, Yamagata Prefecture.

This facility is a must-see for wine lovers, as you can not only tour the wine-making process, but also sell limited edition wines that can only be purchased locally and have a tasting corner staffed by certified sommeliers.

Events are held regularly, such as the Harvest Festival around October every year, the Spring Festival in spring, and the Meat Festival in summer.

*Reservation required for groups

Takahata Winery <Information>

• Name: Takahata Winery
• Address: 2700-1 Iriuda, Takahata-cho, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata 999-2176
• Phone number: 0238-40-1840
• URL: http://www.takahata-winery.jp/

Google Map

summary

A winery tour is a must-see for wine lovers, but in order to get the full experience, including tasting, we recommend visiting using public transportation.

Yamagata Prefecture has the impression of being full of delicious foods such as cherries and soba noodles, but it would also be fun to plan your trip with winery tours as the main focus!