Nagano Prefecture is attracting attention worldwide as a region producing excellent wines. Among them, the Shinshu Chikuma River Wine Valley (East District) is an area with a climate and soil suitable for growing wine grapes.
This time, "CRAFT WINE SHOP" introduces "Gio Hills Winery," located in Komoro City in the same wine valley.
"Gio Hills Winery" is a winery currently attracting attention, producing wines that have won awards at international competitions.
We will deliver a set of exquisite wines brewed by this winery.
About "Gio Hills Winery"
"Gio Hills Winery" is a winery located in Komoro, Shinshu, Nagano Prefecture.
True to the name "GioHills," meaning "Hill where the wind blows," the winery stands on a small hill-like location on the high ground of Mimakigahara in Komoro City.
The first floor is a brewery, and the second floor is a café where you can eat Vietnamese cuisine, making it a unique winery with a breathtaking 360° view that extends all the way to Mount Fuji.
On Friday, June 20, 2025, the operating company, Nakadana Onsen Co., Ltd., will open "song," a Restaurant & Stay within the winery grounds where guests can also stay overnight, attracting attention not only in the wine business but also in other fields.
However, this is precisely because the quality of the wine produced by "Gio Hills Winery" is high, and there are wine drinkers who highly appreciate it all over Japan.
Let's introduce "Geo Hills Winery" below.
The history of "Geo Hills Winery"
The history of "Geo Hills Winery" can be traced back to 2002.
The story of "Geo Hills Winery" started the same year when Chardonnay was planted in Mimakigahara, Komoro, Shinshu.
From 2008, they planted Merlot, and from 2009, Pinot Noir, gradually expanding their own vineyard.
In 2007, they completed the "Nakadana Chardonnay" contract-brewed by Manns Wine, started producing Merlot in 2011 and began selling "Nakadana Merlot," planted Sauvignon Blanc in 2015, established Geo Hills Co., Ltd. in 2016, and completed "Geo Hills Winery" in 2018.
Why did they decide to establish a winery in Mimakigahara, Komoro?
Masaki Tomioka, representative of Geo Hills Winery, is also the fifth-generation owner of Nakadanaso, an inn associated with Toson Shimazaki, and was influenced by a passage Toson wrote in "Sketches of the Chikuma River": "Is there nothing to make myself fresher and simpler?"
I want it to be an inn where guests can feel nostalgic when they return to the countryside, and each time they visit, they find something new and fresh.
That passion did not stop at the inn but drove them to wine, grape cultivation, and the establishment of a new in-house winery.
Now, Mr. Tomioka's eldest son and daughter-in-law have taken over Nakadanaso, and the third son, Hayato Tomioka, is in charge of the winery's brewing.
By the way, Mr. Hayato was a first-year student at the Chikuma River Wine Academy, and before 2018, he was contract brewing at Arcan Vigne Winery, which operates the academy.
Since then, the varieties cultivated have also increased, including Gewürztraminer and Meunier.
It has now made a name for itself as one of Japan's leading wineries, producing wines that have won gold medals at international competitions.
Grape cultivation and winemaking at "Geo Hills Winery"
Mimakigahara, where "Geo Hills Winery" is located, is a semi-cool area at an altitude of about 700m to 800m.
Now attracting attention, it has a cool climate and low rainfall, making it an environment suitable for cultivating European grape varieties.
Furthermore, due to the large temperature difference between day and night, it is also characterized by the grapes retaining rich acidity.
The soil is a strong clay containing abundant yellow-red clay, and it is said that the older it gets, the stronger the grapevines grow.
Originally, Mimakigahara was a difficult land for agriculture, so much so that it was called bad land because it had no rivers and was clayey.
Meanwhile, thanks to land improvements by predecessors, reservoirs were developed, enabling agriculture such as grape cultivation.
By the way, Hayato Tomioka, the head winemaker, spent five years in Hue, Vietnam as a Japanese language teacher for NGO activities, and during his time away from Japan, he was able to reflect on the environment where he was born and raised.
After returning to Japan in 2015, Masaki Tomioka, the representative, invited him to make wine together, and he became a first-year student at the "Chikuma River Wine Academy" which opened that same year.
Furthermore, having welcomed a partner from Vietnam, the wife is now also devoted to winemaking together.
The wine style of "Geo Hills Winery" is not fixed to one type; they aim to cultivate excellent quality grapes and produce wine with minimal intervention in the winemaking process.
The impression is that the winery’s wines are crafted to be delicate and elegant, expressing the cuisine and terroir of Komoro, suitable for enjoying at cafes and restaurants, and pairing well with Japanese food.
"Connect to the Future" Complete Set!
Geo Hills Winery continues to produce wines full of charm that express the terroir of Komoro.
This time, the "CRAFT WINE SHOP" recommends the "Connect to the future 2024 [Complete Set]." *13,200 yen (tax included)
"Connect to the Future" is a wine project series connecting to the future, created by local elementary and high school students in Komoro City, who handle everything from grape cultivation to label design and sales.
This wine series is created through activities that root wine culture in the region, where upperclassmen plant grapevines and underclassmen take over and nurture them the following year.
The grape variety used is Meunier, a black grape variety used for blending in Champagne, planted in 2021 and harvested in 2024; a small quantity was secured for wine production, resulting in this wine.
The wines included in the "Connect to the future 2024 [Complete Set]" are all rosé wines, totaling four types.
- Connect to the future (vineyard and goat) 2024
- Connect to the future (goat and grapes)
- Connect to the future (glass) 2024
- Connect to the future (grape cluster)
The raw material for "Connect to the future 2024" is 100% Meunier, fermented and aged with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks.
Also, malolactic fermentation is not performed, characterized by sharp acidity and fruity flavor.
The aroma features red fruits such as strawberries and cherries, with an accent of black tea nuances, resulting in a charming and elegant rosé wine.
This time, four types of label designs for wine using this Meunier were created by joint groups of elementary and high school students.
The key points of each wine will be introduced below. *Can also be purchased individually.
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Bunch of Grapes) 2024
A cute yet classical label design of grapes and goats.
The label uses pink grapes only for the rosé wine, with one grape designed in a heart shape.
It was aimed to be a design that young women would also want to pick up.
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Bunch of Grapes) 2024
3,300 yen (tax included)
Click here to purchase!
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Glass) 2024
A colorful glass design with a somewhat resort-like mood.
It is said that the design was made lively with scattered grapes, wishing everyone to enjoy drinking together.
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Glass) 2024
3,300 yen (tax included)
Click here to purchase!
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Goat and Grapes) 2024
A label design with two colorful goats and grapes that make a strong impression.
The winery's goat made a strong impact, and it is said that two colorful goats are drawn.
The background is the color of the sky, finished with a cute design of a goat holding grapes in its mouth.
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Goat and Grapes) 2024
3,300 yen (tax included)
Click here to purchase!
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Vineyard and Goat) 2024
A label design with a cute, mascot-like character that soothes the heart.
A design combining illustrations of goats and grapes drawn by elementary school students, unforgettable once seen.
It is imagined as a vineyard heading toward the future.
Geo Hills Winery / Connect to the future (Vineyard and Goat) 2024
3,300 yen (tax included)
Click here to purchase!
Summary
Geo Hills Winery, which continues to produce wines that express the terroir of Komoro.
The "Connect to the Future 2024" introduced this time is an important project that connects wine culture to the future, and it is a precious wine filled with the thoughts of the children of Komoro City.
Why not take this opportunity to get it?
