With wineries increasing nationwide, many people want to know about producers to watch.
This time, "CRAFT WINE SHOP" introduces the winery to watch, "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka."
Also introduced is the winery’s award-winning sake wine, such as the "Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022."
Please keep an eye on this promising female producer who is expected to lead the future of Japanese wine.
About "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka"
"Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" is a winery named after Kyoko Hosaka, who is both a grower and winemaker.
Since she does not yet have her own winery, she calls herself the "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka Preparation Room," but preparations are underway to open a winery in her hometown of Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. (The winery currently produces wine through contract winemaking.)
There are three key points essential to understanding "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka."
- From food-related work to agriculture
- From grape growing to winemaking
- Dedicated grape cultivation
Let’s introduce the journey of "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka."
The journey of "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka"
Kyoko Hosaka of "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" is from Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
After graduating from the Department of Cultural Nutrition at Kagawa Nutrition University, she gained experience in food-related work in Tokyo.
She has been involved in many food-related roles, including restaurant opening operations, menu development, food publishing, projects with culinary researchers, wine sales at wine shops, and food coordination for books by famous professors.
During this time, she decided to return to her hometown of Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, to study agriculture, enrolling in the vegetable course at the Yamanashi Prefectural Agricultural College vocational training program, though at that time she never imagined she would be involved in grape cultivation and winemaking herself.
A turning point for her was being entrusted with Chardonnay cultivation at the training school.
While studying vegetable cultivation, she devoted some time to grape growing and finally harvested Chardonnay in September 2016.
The contract winemaking partner she chose was none other than "Domaine Hide."
This led her to train at "Domaine Hide," where she experienced everything from grape growing to wine preparation, eventually inspiring her to produce wine herself under the "Domaine" label.
After completing vocational training in 2017, she underwent further training at the Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station and an agricultural corporation specializing in winemaking grapes, gaining extensive experience in grape cultivation and winemaking.
further earned a Bachelor of Wine Science at Yamanashi University, working at the Yamanashi Wine Center in wine analysis, research assistance, and winemaking, dedicating her days to wine.
She became independent as "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka," and
Hosaka started grape cultivation in 2016 and has accumulated extensive experience and achievements.
The first wine was released in 2019 under the name "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka Preparation Room."
Currently, the winery cultivates grapes at two locations in Yamanashi Prefecture: Former Shirane Town in Minami-Alps City and Hosaka Town in Nirasaki City.
| Former Shirane Town, Minami-Alps City |
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| Hosaka Town, Nirasaki City |
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“Domaine Kyoko Hosaka” focuses on grape cultivation tailored to the terroir of each vineyard.
She is committed to "good grape growing," maximizing the potential of the grapes by using reduced pesticides and chemical fertilizers as much as possible and limiting yields to achieve concentration.
Currently, the winery is preparing to open in Nirasaki City, so the wines are made through contract winemaking.
Depending on the year and variety, the outsourcing partners include Domaine Hide, Maruki Winery, and Alps Wine.
Although the winemaking is outsourced, she is personally involved in the process and aims to create clean wines based on the belief that "good wine comes from good grapes." (Red wines are made without added sulfur dioxide, and some varieties are fermented with wild yeast.)
Having long been involved with food, Hosaka’s philosophy of enjoying wine with meals also influences the taste of her wines.
With concentrated flavor, appealing aromas, and fresh, clean complexity, "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" wines already have many fans, and due to limited production, some are difficult to obtain.
The female producer "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" is sure to attract attention in the future.
Why not experience the charm created by the wines she produces?
"Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" Recommended Wines
At "CRAFT WINE SHOP," we carry many wines from "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka."
Among them, let us introduce the wines we especially recommend.
"Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022"
The wine recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP" from "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" is "Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022."
This wine won the Platinum Award at the 5th Wasyu Awards 2024 held in Hong Kong on November 7, gaining attention worldwide.
The Wasyu Awards is a contest where top sommeliers and industry professionals active in East Asia judge Japanese wine and sake. In 2024, over 70 items from wineries in 20 prefectures were submitted, and strict judging was conducted by 16 judges including chief judge Reeze Choi.
The Platinum Award is a prestigious prize, with only 10 bottles selected among them.
"Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022" is a white wine made from Delaware grapes grown with reduced pesticides in the vineyard located in Hosaka Town, Nirasaki City.
This is a carefully crafted wine with yield restrictions, contract-made by Alps Wine (Yamanashi Prefecture).
Being a 2022 vintage, the color is a deep orange.
You can enjoy refined aromas such as apricot, ripe fruit, and yellow flowers.
The greatest feature of "Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022" is its abundant acidity.
Mr. Hosaka himself considers acidity one of Delaware’s charms, allowing you to enjoy fresh and sharp acidity from the first sip to the finish.
The fruitiness of Delaware, abundant acidity, subtle bitterness lingering underneath, and an elegant finish that somehow conveys tension within a soft atmosphere is simply remarkable.
For pairing, cheeses with fermentation nuances such as cream cheese, blue cheese, or washed-rind cheese with strong flavors are recommended.
It also pairs well with macaroni salad and spiced curry.
Also, based on the wine’s characteristics, pairing with Chinese dishes using black vinegar, slowly simmered beef tripe with white miso, or fresh ethnic-style salads with fish sauce would be interesting.
While satisfying on their own, why not enjoy pairing this with dishes that have distinctive flavors, different from fresh and fruity young white wines?
Domaine Kyoko Hosaka Delaware Dry Hosaka Harvest 2022 (White)
3,080 yen (tax included)
Wines from "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" that we want you to know more about
At "CRAFT WINE SHOP," we offer not only the wines listed above but also many other wines from "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka."
- Muscat Bailey A 2021 (Red)
A red wine made from Muscat Bailey A grown in the vineyard in Hosaka Town, Nirasaki City.
Grown with reduced pesticides and finished without added sulfur dioxide.
The contract winemaking is done by Domaine Hide.
Domaine Kyoko Hosaka / Muscat Bailey A 2021 (Red)
3,300 yen (tax included)
- Muscat Bailey A Wild Yeast 2020 (Red)
A red wine made from Muscat Bailey A grown in the vineyard in Hosaka Town, Nirasaki City.
Grown with reduced pesticides, no added sulfur dioxide, using stainless steel tanks and wild yeast.
The contract winemaking is done by Carefit Farm Winery.
Domaine Kyoko Hosaka / Muscat Bailey A Wild Yeast 2020 (Red)
4,400 yen (tax included)
- Muscat Bailey A Wild Yeast 2022 (Red)
A red wine made from Muscat Bailey A grown in the vineyard in Hosaka Town, Nirasaki City.
Grown with reduced pesticides, no added sulfur dioxide, and fermented with wild yeast.
The contract winemaking is done by Domaine Hide.
Winner of the Silver Award at the 5th Wasyu Awards 2024.
Domaine Kyoko Hosaka / Muscat Bailey A Wild Yeast 2022 (Red)
3,520 yen (tax included)
- Chardonnay Shirane Harvest 2022 (White)
A white wine made from Chardonnay harvested in the vineyard in the former Shirane Town, Minami-Alps City.
Grown with reduced pesticides, the Chardonnay from this vineyard is characterized by a strong aroma, with a crisp acidity and a clean, dry taste.
The contract winemaking is done by Alps Wine (Yamanashi Prefecture).
Winner of the Silver Award at the 5th Wasyu Awards 2024.
Domaine Kyoko Hosaka / Chardonnay Shirane Harvest 2022 (White)
3,520 yen (tax included)
Summary
She is a female winemaker currently in the spotlight, and her wines are of a quality that attracts global attention.
The charm of "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" lies in clean, high-quality wines made from excellent grapes, which are sure to continue gaining popularity.
"Japanese wine is becoming something amazing."
Please experience the wines of "Domaine Kyoko Hosaka" that make drinkers feel that way, available at "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
