Nagano Prefecture is a wine region attracting attention not only in Japan but also worldwide.
The "Shinshu Wine Valley Concept" announced in 2013 attracted attention, and from 2023, "Shinshu Wine Valley Concept 2.0" has started.
The area added along with this concept is the Yatsugatake Western Foothills Wine Valley.
High-quality NAGANO WINE is produced in the wine regions including Haramura, Chino City, and Fujimi Town. This time, Craft Wine Shop features the winery in the Haramura area, "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery".
Let's introduce wonderful wines to enjoy on Tanabata, July 7th.
The notable western foothills of Yatsugatake area
The western foothills of Yatsugatake are a new wine region for Nagano Prefecture.
The western foothills of Yatsugatake are called the "Yatsugatake Western Foothills Wine Valley," and the three wine regions of Haramura, Chino City, and Fujimi Town included in it function as the Yatsugatake Western Foothills Wine Special Zone.
Originally, Haramura had acquired a wine special zone, but with the approval of changes to the Structural Reform Special Zone Plan on March 31, 2023, the wine special zone area expanded to include the entire three municipalities of Chino City and Fujimi Town.
In addition to the Yatsugatake Haramura Winery introduced this time, wineries such as Oreille de Chat Venus Line Winery, Mizukake Brewery, Minenokura, and kifutato wines are scattered in the western foothills of Yatsugatake, and it is expected to become a globally recognized wine region in the future.
The western foothills of Yatsugatake are characterized by vineyards scattered at cool locations above 800 meters altitude, large temperature differences between day and night, and volcanic black soil with many stones that provide excellent drainage, forming a complex soil composition ideal for wine grape cultivation.
By the way, due to global warming, the cool climate has shifted to an ideal condition with just the right temperature.
A wide variety of grape varieties are cultivated in the western foothills of Yatsugatake.
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir
- Gewürztraminer
- Dornfelder
- Merlot
- Tannat
- Rkatsiteli and others
The wines produced in the western foothills of Yatsugatake are characterized by elegant and delicate quality, sharp acidity, and refined fruitiness, matching global wine trends.
It is an area to look forward to seeing how it will grow from now on.
About "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery"
This time, we introduce "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery," a pioneer of winemaking in the western foothills of Yatsugatake.
"Yatsugatake Haramura Winery" is located on a plateau at an altitude of 914 meters in Haramura, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture.
It was established in October 2022 as the first winery in Haramura, developed by the local construction company "Shoei."
There are three key points to know about "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery."
- Head Winemaker Mr. Kamakura
- Quality unique to a cool climate
- Winemaking that expresses the charm of grapes
Let's share each of these.
Head Winemaker Mr. Kamakura
The person in charge of winemaking is Hiroyoshi Kamakura from Gunma Prefecture.
Originally, he was in charge of sales at a sake brewing company, but after obtaining a wine advisor qualification at the company, he developed a strong interest in wine.
After being deeply impressed by a book by Toyoo Tamamura, he was thinking of cultivating wine grapes in his hometown Haramura after retirement, but his father passed away.
With the thought, "You never know what will happen to yourself, so I want to fulfill my dream while I still have strength," he took early retirement and then became a 6th term student at the Chikuma River Wine Academy, starting to study grape cultivation and winemaking.
After graduating from the same Wine Academy, he underwent two years of training at "Shinshu Takayama Winery," where he met Mr. Masatoshi Shimizu of "Shoei."
Mr. Shimizu, who aimed to open a winery in Haramura, invited Mr. Kamakura as the head winemaker, fulfilling the dream of establishing the "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery."
If Mr. Kamakura and Mr. Shimizu had not met at that time, the current "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery" might not exist.
Quality unique to a cool climate
The area where the "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery" owns its vineyard is a cold region where winter temperatures can drop to minus 15°C.
The vineyard was reportedly a rice field inherited because the locals said it was fine for anyone to use freely, and they developed the vineyard by considering drainage, creating slopes, and returning nutrient-rich topsoil to the surface.
The first grape variety planted for wine was Merlot, followed by an increase in varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc.
The appeal of cool climate regions is the excellent balance of sharp acidity and fruitiness in the grapes, but the downside is that it can be difficult to fully ripen the grapes due to the cool temperatures.
Varieties like Chardonnay can be fully ripened here, and the temperature difference between day and night helps maintain acidity, resulting in high-quality grapes.
Haramura harvests world-class grapes that are aromatic, elegant, delicate, and have a solid structure.
Winemaking that expresses the charm of grapes
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery has functional and clean facilities based on advice from Eiichi Takano of Shinshu Takayama Winery.
It features state-of-the-art equipment and is designed for easy cleaning after operation.
The winery is breathtakingly beautiful and impeccably clean.
Mr. Kamakura aims to create wines that express the potential of grape varieties, especially their aromas and distinctive flavors.
Mr. Kamakura’s thorough attention to yeast selection and barrel types for aging, his positively "maniac" approach, is the secret behind the unique taste of Yatsugatake Haramura Winery.
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery, already gaining attention for its high quality, won a Silver at the 11th Sakura Awards (SAKURA Japan Women’s Wine Awards) 2024 for the "2022 Kazemeguru Wine Rose."
We can’t take our eyes off what kinds of wines will be created from now on.
Wines to drink on Tanabata
The recommended wine from "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery" that you should definitely drink on Tanabata is the "Hoshifuru Wine" series.
Haramura, where the winery is located, is called the "Village of Falling Stars" because the clear air allows a sky full of stars to spread out at night.
Because there is little city light and the night is dark and quiet, it creates an even more romantic atmosphere.
"Hoshifuru Wine" is named after Haramura, which is called the "Village of Falling Stars."
Isn’t this wine perfect for Tanabata, the day when Orihime and Hikoboshi meet across the Milky Way just once a year?
There is also a custom of eating somen noodles shaped like the Milky Way on this day, and "Hoshifuru Wine" pairs excellently with somen.
It also pairs perfectly with wine.
By the way, on the night of July 7th, the Tanabata sky is said to feature the Milky Way, the star Vega (Orihime), and the star Altair (Hikoboshi).
Furthermore, Tanabata is one of Japan’s traditional festivals and is counted among the five important seasonal festivals, making it an important day for Japanese people.
Now, let’s introduce the "Hoshifuru Wine" series in more detail below.
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery / Hoshifuru Wine Chardonnay 2023
A dry white wine made from Chardonnay grapes.
With fresh citrus aromas typical of Chardonnay, lively sharp acidity, and a moderate 11% alcohol content, it has a wonderful medium-bodied texture.
The label design, reminiscent of the star-filled night sky of Haramura, is truly romantic.
Its sharp acidity and refreshing taste seem to pair well with colorful chirashi sushi loaded with ingredients.
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery / Hoshifuru Wine Chardonnay 2023
2,860 yen
Go to the purchase page here!
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery / Hoshifuru Wine Blanc 2023
A unique dry white wine with a backbone of two types of Chardonnay from different regions, blended with 18% Sauvignon Blanc.
You can enjoy a complex harmony where aromas and flavors that don’t appear in individual grapes blend together.
The label is also romantic, featuring grapes designed to look like stars.
With a pleasant fruity aroma, a soft mouthfeel, and a rich umami flavor, it pairs well with a wide range of dishes.
If you want to eat somen noodles on Tanabata, this wine would be a great choice.
Yatsugatake Haramura Winery / Hoshifuru Wine Blanc 2023
2,640 yen
Go to the purchase page here!
Summary
The western foothills of Yatsugatake produce charming wines that take advantage of the rare high altitude in Japan.
Among them, Haramura is an area where high-quality grape cultivation is possible, promising new encounters with Japanese wine.
"Yatsugatake Haramura Winery" is a recommended winery in the western foothills of Yatsugatake.
For Tanabata, be sure to choose wine from "Yatsugatake Haramura Winery."
