This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
Yamagata Prefecture, the leading "wine kingdom" in the Tohoku region, is home to a variety of wineries throughout the prefecture
This time, we will introduce some trivia about Yamagata Prefecture's wines, as well as wineries where you can tour the brewery, experience wine-making, and sample the wine!
Tohoku's leading 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 that is suitable for grape cultivation. Yamagata is also a rice-producing region, and rice is grown in the plains, while grapes are grown on the slopes of the plains and mountains that are not suitable for paddy fields, so crop cultivation is well separated
The sloping terrain and good drainage give the grapes just the right amount of water stress, making it possible to cultivate grapes with small berries and concentrated flavor
Other positive factors include the many sunny days during the grape growing season from April to October, the cool monthly average temperature during the harvest season, and the large temperature difference between day and night
Various figures show that Yamagata Prefecture is the leading wine producing region in Tohoku
Grape production is the 4th largest in the country!
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The prefecture also boasts one of the largest production volumes in the country of grapes, the raw material for wine
In 2020, it was ranked third in the nation, but in 2021 it was overtaken by Okayama Prefecture and fell to fourth place. Since production volumes are comparable between Okayama Prefecture and it seems they are competing with each other every year!
It has the most wineries in the Tohoku region and the fourth in the nation!
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The number of wineries that actually brew and produce wine from grapes is the highest in the Tohoku region and the fourth highest in the nation
A winery located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
The free factory tour takes about 45 minutes and includes a mini-lecture on the wine-making process, how to drink wine, a lecture on sake tasting, and a tasting of about five different types of wine. Reservations can be made for groups of 10 to 30 people
*Tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Reservations required
Tendo Wine <Information>
Name: Tendo Wine
Address: 99 Takatama Minami, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 994-0068
This winery is located in Nishikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture. Tours are free, but reservations are required. Please inquire in advance to find out when and how long tours are available
This is a family-run winery located in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
At the private farm "Shikinen," you can pick grapes from early August to mid-October, and from mid-August to early October, you can experience making wine using grapes that you have harvested yourself
*Reservation required
Sudo Wine Factory <Information>
Name: Sudo Wine Shikinen
Address: 2836 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 999-2211
Located in Takahata Town, Yamagata Prefecture, this is the largest tourist winery in the Tohoku region
This is a must-see facility for wine lovers, as it not only allows visitors to see the wine-making process, but also sells limited edition wines that can only be purchased locally, and has a tasting corner staffed by certified sommeliers
Events are also held regularly, such as the harvest festival around October every year, the spring festival, and the meat festival in summer
A winery tour is a must-do for wine lovers, but to get the full experience, including tastings, we recommend visiting by public transportation
Yamagata Prefecture has an impression of being full of delicious foods such as cherries and soba noodles, but it would also be fun to plan a trip that centers around visiting wineries!
![cb115f1bbd09cb04b9138b7ecd35f6c6.jpg](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAJYAAACWAQAAAAAUekxPAAAAAnRSTlMAAHaTzTgAAAAaSURBVEjH7cExAQAAAMKg9U9tDQ+gAACAdwMLuAABXZHjmQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg== ""Immediate Body Buddha" in Yamagata Prefecture and "Reincarnation Faith" in Yudonoyama")
![cb115f1bbd09cb04b9138b7ecd35f6c6.jpg](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cb115f1bbd09cb04b9138b7ecd35f6c6.jpg-150x150.webp ""Immediate Body Buddha" in Yamagata Prefecture and "Reincarnation Faith" in Yudonoyama")
![68_Kahoku Town Children's Zoo 1](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/5bce3c8b497ca3e17dafb764d8b3a2e1-150x150.jpg.webp "[Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture] The completely free "Kahoku Town Children's Zoo" is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Enjoy 30 types of animals!")
![Mogami safflower](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/30121446_m-1-150x150.jpg.webp ""Mogami safflower" certified as a Japanese heritage and Japanese agricultural heritage [Yamagata Prefecture]")
