Yoichi Town in Hokkaido, now known not only in Japan but also worldwide as a renowned wine region. This time, we introduce an exquisite Japanese wine set from Hirakawa Winery located in Yoichi Town. The set includes Hirakawa Winery’s rosé wine, two types of white sparkling wines, and a “wine learning booklet.” This is a rare item limited to 100 sets, available only at the “CRAFT WINE SHOP.” Here, we share details about Hirakawa Winery and the wines included in the set.
About Hirakawa Winery
Hirakawa Winery is located in Yoichi Town, Hokkaido. It is a popular winery that carefully produces wine from grapes harvested in its own vineyards in the Yoichi and Sawa districts. The winery pursues winemaking that values the “terroir of Yoichi,” creating wines characterized by rich aromas, sharp acidity, and a long, beautiful finish. There are two key points to know about Hirakawa Winery:
- Owner Atsuo Hirakawa
- Towards ideal winemaking
Let’s explain each.
Owner Atsuo Hirakawa
When talking about Hirakawa Winery, the indispensable figure is its owner, Atsuo Hirakawa. As a grower, winemaker, and sommelier, Hirakawa’s commitment to grape and wine quality is extraordinary. His career began around the age of 19. He entered the sommelier path at a young age and three years later moved to the Lorraine region in eastern France with just a backpack to train as a sommelier. Facing harsh realities, he aimed to become a winemaker in France, briefly returned to Japan, then went back to France. At age 31, he was awarded the National Oenologist Diploma (DNO) by the French Ministry of Agriculture in 2003, advancing his path as a winemaker. Hirakawa worked as a sommelier in Japan while continuing his winemaking career in France. After traveling to South Africa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, and New Zealand—some of the world’s top wine regions—he had to return to Japan at age 35 due to visa issues. He then joined Michel Bras Toya Japon as chef sommelier, starting a new chapter. During this time, he encountered Kerner grapes from Yoichi, which made a strong impression. Seeing similarities between Kerner and Riesling, essential for gastronomy, he realized the bright future of Hokkaido wine. Meeting his wife, who is from Hokkaido, also inspired his challenge to make wine in Hokkaido. From working as a sommelier at renowned restaurants to aiming to create wines that complement gourmet food in a cold climate grape region, Hirakawa set his goal to express the terroir of Hokkaido. In 2014, he established Hirakawa Farm Co., Ltd., taking over the vineyard of Mr. Fujishiro, a pioneering farmer in Yoichi Town. Subsequently, he founded the winery, and Hirakawa Winery was born in February 2015. Having worked as a sommelier in Michelin-starred restaurants and as a grower and winemaker on the world’s highest stages, Hirakawa is a unique presence in the Japanese wine world. With extensive experience, solid skills, research knowledge, and deep ties to mentors and the local community, Hirakawa Winery truly expresses the life and spirit of one man: Atsuo Hirakawa.
Towards Ideal Winemaking
Hirakawa Winery’s hallmark is owning its own vineyard, “Hirakawa Farm,” considered the top vineyard in Yoichi Town. Located in the Sawa district of Yoichi, this vineyard is at the northernmost coastal limit for grape cultivation. With abundant sunlight and winds flowing from the sea and mountains, healthy, high-quality grapes grow here. The soil quality is excellent, and grapes are grown using “grass cultivation” without chemical fertilizers or herbicides. The large temperature difference between day and night allows harvesting grapes with rich aroma and abundant acidity. Hirakawa Farm cultivates a wide range of grapes, including French varieties and early-ripening grapes, with the winery’s signature Kerner grown in four plots. Hirakawa’s winemaking philosophy, shaped by his global experience, is the ultimate expression of terroir. Emphasizing locality, he does not use field blends because the wine’s character is determined by the vineyard, and human intervention is kept to a minimum out of trust in the vineyard. Different winemaking methods are applied to each vineyard plot and tank, then blended into a single wine. Hirakawa’s wines are known for their beautiful acidity, and notably, no acid removal is performed. This bold approach is possible because of his trust in the quality of grapes grown in this land. Believing that wine should transcend grape varieties and reflect the character of the land, Hirakawa Winery deliberately does not disclose the grape varieties used. If you seek the pinnacle of Japanese wine, you will find it at Hirakawa Winery.
[Limited to 100 Sets] About the Special Set
This time, an item available only at the “Diners Club Wine Selection – A Special Set of Japan’s Finest Wines Presented by Diners Club” is offered.
19,800 yen (tax included)
“Signature” is a newsletter delivered 10 times a year to Diners Club members, featuring popular articles on gourmet food, events, entertainment, and more, leveraging Diners Club’s unique discerning power. The set includes a rosé and two white sparkling wines from Hirakawa Winery, perfect for the budding season, along with a “wine learning booklet.” This original cuvée is not available anywhere else. The set includes two wines:
- Cerisier Méthode Traditionnelle 2019 (Rosé Sparkling)
Enjoy rich fruit aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, black cherry compote, and acerola. Complex aromas include brioche, roasted notes, sweet spices, faint caramel, and dashi-like nuances. The palate is pleasant from the attack, with a full-bodied structure, firm bubbles, crisp acidity, and lasting minerality, making it a magnificent rosé sparkling wine.
- Miraï Méthode Traditionnelle 2021 (White Sparkling)
A dry sparkling wine (Blanc de Blancs) made from 100% white grapes. The base wine is harvested early in late September from only healthy grapes. It undergoes four years of bottle fermentation, allowing contact with yeast lees to enhance fine bubbles and umami. Also included is the wine learning booklet “Where Knowledge Meets Taste – 2026 Spring,” which provides insights about the wines in this set. This rare set is limited to 100 units and available only at “CWS.” Don’t miss this opportunity to get the “Diners Club Wine Selection – A Special Set of Japan’s Finest Wines Presented by Diners Club.”
Get This Rare Wine Set Now!
The exquisite wine set from Hirakawa Winery, a winery Japan proudly presents to the world, “Diners Club Wine Selection – A Special Set of Japan’s Finest Wines Presented by Diners Club.”
This precious set is limited to 100 units and available only at the “CRAFT WINE SHOP.”
Take this chance to enjoy the excellence of Hirakawa Winery.
