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[Nishimurayama, Yamagata Prefecture] “Asahi Town Wine Castle” is like a French winery! You can sample 40 kinds for free.

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  • Last updated: 2023.09.21

"Asahicho Wine Castle" is a winery with a Western-like landscape. A castle stands in front of a vineyard grown under hedges, which is rare in Japan. You can feel like you're in a foreign country.

At Asahimachi Wine Castle, you can sample as many as 40 types of wine for free. This is an irresistible place for wine lovers. Those arriving by car can drink fresh grape juice. This is also popular.

It's located a few minutes down a side street from the main road, so it's very quiet, which matches the atmosphere of the castle and vineyards. The green grass and colorful flowers, including roses, create a pleasant landscape.

Many people don't particularly like wine, but they like the Western-style scenery here. It is also a very popular tourist spot.

Asahicho wine is a product that Japan is proud of.

Asahicho Wine has been in business for over 70 years. We are particular about using only domestic grapes, mainly from Yamagata. It is highly rated among domestic wines.

It is a wine that represents Japan, winning a prize at the 2017 Japan Wine Competition and being served to leaders at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, where Japan served as the chair country.

You can watch the bottling process

You can actually see the bottling process. It's rare to find a place where you can observe the process in detail, such as pasting the label on and closing the cap.

At Asahimachi Wine Castle, approximately 10,000 bottles of wine are bottled every day to ensure quality.

You can sample grapes in the field

Wine grapes are harvested in the fall. Therefore, the fruit grows quite large in summer. When you visit the vineyard, you can actually sample the grapes.

You will notice that the grapes are completely different from the grapes you usually eat. It's sour anyway. Wine grapes are completely different from the ones you find in the supermarket.

Being able to experience the difference is valuable.

Grape juice is also popular

The grape juice you can buy as souvenirs is different from regular grape juice because it is made for wine.

Muscat Berry A grape juice grown for red wine is popular. Our philosophy is that if the grape juice is not delicious, the wine made from the grapes will not be delicious either.

Many people are fascinated by the freshness and pleasant sour taste that sets it apart from ordinary grape juice. Recommended not only for people who don't drink wine, but also for people who visit for wine.

Dry brandy is also popular

There are also many enthusiasts of Espoir Takano, a brandy made by distilling Asahicho wine and aging it in French barrels for 10 years.

Brandy grown in the majestic nature of the Asahi Federation, known as the Tohoku Alps, is characterized by its plump and warm flavor.

The aroma that wafts from the amber liquid is captivating. It is relatively affordable at 1,885 yen for 180ml.

Especially recommended Asahi town wine

Merlot

The Merlot flagship called “Meister Selection Cuvée Merlot” is popular. Although the price is low at 3,455 yen, it is extremely high quality.

The label features a picture of a wine castle, making it a perfect souvenir. This is a product that won a silver medal at the 2017 Japan Wine Competition.

This wine is made with great care, and a special process called cold maceration is introduced to bring out the color and aroma. This is brewed at a low temperature for a certain period of time before fermentation.

It is aged in French oak barrels for 10 months before being bottled. As a result, it has a very strong fruit flavor of wild strawberries and raspberries, but it also has a gentle oak aroma from the barrel.

The tannins can also be felt precisely, making this product highly recommended for Merlot lovers.

zweigeltrebe

For those who prefer dry, the ``Meister Selection Cuvée Zweigeltrebe'' is recommended. This Zweigeltrebe variety is grown in-house and is brewed using cold maceration.

The aroma of black pepper is spicy and attractive. It is popular because it is cheap at 3,455 yen, the same as the Merlot mentioned above, so it is easy to buy. Received the bronze medal at the 2017 Japan Wine Competition.

You can sample 40 different types of wine

The shop sells over 40 types of wine. The wines are categorized by type, such as dry, sweet, red, white, rosé, fruit wine, and sparkling wine, so it's easy to choose what you like.

Let's compare the differences between domestic and Western varieties.

Particularly popular is the comparison of Japanese and Western varieties. Asahi Town wine is produced exclusively from domestic grapes, mainly from Asahi Town. Like the Meister Selection introduced earlier, it is characterized by being relatively light and easy to drink.

The winery here also uses its vast land to grow Western varieties in-house. This has a very deep flavor to it. The taste is completely different from domestic varieties.

It is extremely rare to find a place where you can taste and compare 40 different types of wine. Please enjoy the wine you are interested in to your heart's content. There are many items that can be purchased at low prices, so if you buy something that catches your eye and take it home, you can be excited about when to open it later.

Summary about Asahi Town Wine Castle

Asahicho Wine receives numerous awards at the Japan Wine Competition every year. It has a very high reputation and is characterized by being cheap and easy to find.

Asahimachi Wine Castle has an attractive idyllic scenery, and just going there will make you feel healed. Wines are beautifully displayed at the shop inside the castle.

In addition to the taste, we put a lot of effort into the bottle design, such as the label and cap with cute ``wine fairies'' on them. Just place it on the table and it will brighten up.

This is a must-see spot when sightseeing in Yamagata. Take home your favorite bottle while being surrounded by the sights and scents of wine.

INFORMATION

  • Name: Asahicho Wine Castle
  • Address: 1080 Otani Takano, Asahi-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0237-68-2611
  • Official URL: http://asahimachi-wine.jp/

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