Recently, "IWATE WINE TASTING at TOKYO 2026" was held at Nihonbashi Plaza in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, hosted by CruX and co-hosted by the Iwate Wine Promotion Council.
This tasting event targeted "wine professionals" such as wholesalers, retailers, and media in the metropolitan area, but about 100 people attended on the day. It was a valuable opportunity not only to taste but also to hear firsthand stories from producers who came from Iwate Prefecture, and many attendees were seen tasting and conversing at all booths, which was impressive.
At this event, "CRAFT WINE SHOP" introduces especially recommended wines from the booths that offered tastings. These wines are available for purchase at CWS, so please check them out.
Leading producers representing Iwate gathered together
"IWATE WINE TASTING at TOKYO 2026" was held not only to expand the trade of "Iwate Wine" but also to create opportunities for metropolitan area enthusiasts to meet producers and taste wines, aiming to raise the recognition of "Iwate Wine." The participating producers gathered at the venue as listed below.
- Edel Wine
- Iwate Kuzumaki Wine
- Three Peaks
- Takahashi Vineyard
- Kanda Vineyard
- Kamegamori Brewery
- Suzumi no Oka Winery
- Osako Sato Vineyard
- 自園自醸ワイン 紫波
- KOTO Wine Morioka
- Monnosuke Farm
- Arpeizan Winery
- Baeren Brewery
*Titles omitted, order not specified
From long-established wineries to emerging ones, this tasting event allowed us to experience the current state of Iwate wine. Let's introduce the recommended wines from each winery, which are also available for purchase at CWS.
[On-list Wine Sales Page Here]
Edel Wine
Edel Wine is a popular winery in Osako Town, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. It is one of Japan's leading wineries, highly acclaimed both domestically and internationally.
"Satsukinagane Sparkling"
Edel Wine's recommended bottle is "Satsukinagane Sparkling." This sparkling wine, made from Riesling Lion, has a well-balanced umami and acidity. Riesling Lion is a variety created by crossing Riesling and Koshu Sanshaku, with about 90% grown in Iwate Prefecture. It is fresh but made with a slight residual sugar, making it easy to drink and highly recommended for pairing with all kinds of Japanese cuisine.
Iwate Kuzumaki Wine
Founded in 1985, Iwate Kuzumaki Wine is a long-established winery in Kuzumaki Town, Iwate Prefecture. Famous for making wine from locally grown mountain grapes, it offers unique and high-quality Japanese wines unlike any other.
"Ao (蒼)"
Iwate Kuzumaki Wine's recommended bottle is "Ao (蒼)." This red wine features a striking label design with the character "蒼." It uses the mountain grape hybrid "Kokoushi," offering the sharp acidity typical of mountain grapes. What is remarkable is the concentration of fruit and elegant tannins. While mountain grapes are often associated with sharp acidity, this wine achieves a well-balanced, high-quality finish. It pairs well with sweet and savory Japanese dishes like yakitori with sauce or tare.
Three Peaks
Three Peaks is a winery in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture. Founded in 2018 with the aim of disaster recovery and creating a new wine culture, it continues to produce high-quality wines that pair excellently with the seafood of Sanriku, making it a promising winery.
"CARTA 2023"
Three Peaks' recommended bottle is "CARTA 2023." This rosé wine, made simply from Muscat Bailey A, has a beautiful color. It offers the charming aroma typical of Muscat Bailey A, fruitiness, refreshing acidity, and moderate tannins, resulting in a fresh and dry taste that pairs well with a wide range of dishes. It is especially suitable for Japanese cuisine using soy sauce, making it easy for everyday use. This attractive bottle is filled with the passion of representative Mr. Oikawa, who says, "We want to spread the charm of rosé even more."
Takahashi Vineyard
Takahashi Vineyard, located in Osako Town, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, has been producing and selling wine through self-brewing since 2015. Mr. Takahashi, who learned winemaking at Edel Wine and has overseas experience in Austria and other countries, crafts wines that captivate many Japanese wine fans.
"Riesling Lion 2025"
Takahashi Vineyard's recommended bottle is "Riesling Lion 2025." This clean white wine is made from Riesling Lion, a representative grape variety of Iwate Prefecture. It features the fruit aroma reminiscent of green apples typical of Riesling, along with citrus aromas characteristic of Koshu, fresh acidity, and subtle bitterness, fully bringing out the best qualities of the variety. It has an elegant finish that doesn't overpower dishes, making it a great match for sashimi, sushi, and delicately flavored dishes with dashi, highly recommended for Japanese cuisine restaurants.
Kanda Vineyard
Founded in 1905, Kanda Vineyard is a long-established winery in Rikuzentakata. The company handles everything from grape cultivation to juice and wine production, focusing especially on white varieties like Albariño, aiming to create wines unique to the Sanriku region.
"Rias Blanc 2025"
Kanda Vineyard's recommended bottle is "Rias Blanc 2025." "Rias Blanc 2025" is a unique white wine mainly made from Riesling Lion, blended with Koshu. Each grape variety is fermented at low temperatures and blended before bottling. By blending Koshu with Riesling Lion, which inherits Koshu's genes, the nuances of Japanese citrus are prominently expressed, resulting in a fresh and fruity finish. The fruitiness is solid, balanced with sharp acidity and bitterness. The label was renewed starting with the 2025 vintage, making the bottle visually appealing.
Kamegamori Brewery
A small winery in Osako Town, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, "Kamegamori Brewery." Founded by an apple farmer and a grape farmer, their commitment is to natural winemaking. You can encounter pure and deeply moving wines that cherish the natural taste and individuality of the ingredients.
"Shiro Wanda 2025"
Kamegamori Brewery's recommended bottle is "Shiro Wanda." It is a natural wine made mainly from Niagara grapes without the use of sulfur dioxide. The aroma is delicate, with a complex flavor beyond just fruitiness, and the aftertaste is clean, allowing you to directly enjoy the pure deliciousness of the grapes. It pairs well with slightly strong-flavored seafood dishes and other delicacies, making it a highly recommended wine.
Suzumi no Oka Winery
Suzumi no Oka Winery, located in Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture, is a dreamlike winery on a hill overlooking the beautiful sea, dedicated to producing wines using mountain grapes from Noda Village.
'Shizuku MarineRouge Rosé 2020'
One of Suzumi no Oka Winery's recommended wines is 'Shizuku MarineRouge Rosé 2020.' Made from early-ripening Nomura grapes (with sugar content over 18 degrees), the producer claims it might be "Japan's richest rosé." Indeed, it looks almost like a red wine in the glass, but thanks to yeast used for Chardonnay, it is a refreshing rosé with clean fruit flavors and acidity. It also has a salty nuance reminiscent of the sea, making it a perfect match for seafood. It is especially recommended to pair with sea squirts, a specialty of the Sanriku Coast.
Osako Sato Vineyard
Osako Sato Vineyard is located in Osako Town, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. Known as a "smart winery" run by a former engineer, it produces clean wines from healthy grapes that pair well with Japanese cuisine.
'Zweigeltrebe 2021'
One of Osako Sato Vineyard's recommended wines is 'Zweigeltrebe 2021.' Made from Zweigeltrebe grapes grown in a cool climate that produces high-quality wines, this wine reflects the terroir of Iwate Prefecture. It features complex aromas of violet, berries, and spices, with a delicate texture, sharp acidity, and firm tannins, resulting in a well-balanced wine. It pairs well with Japanese seasonings like soy sauce and miso, which are often challenging for foreign wines, making it a smooth red wine to enjoy.
自園自醸ワイン 紫波
自園自醸ワイン 紫波 is a popular winery in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, producing wines that express the terroir using locally grown grapes under the style of [自園自醸].
'Cave Shiwa Riesling 2020'
自園自醸ワイン 紫波's recommended wine is 'Cave Shiwa Riesling 2020.' Made from Riesling grapes, a white variety loved worldwide, especially in Germany and Alsace, France. This Riesling, matured in their own cave using grapes from Shiwa Town, offers a powerful yet aromatic experience with crisp acidity. It has a complex, aged flavor while remaining fresh and vibrant, making it a high-quality wine to enjoy chilled or at room temperature.
KOTO Wine Morioka
KOTO Wine Morioka is an emerging winery formed by the collaboration of four southeastern districts of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. They produce approachable wines, including petillant wines that highlight the grape's natural sweetness, making them ideal for wine beginners.
'KOTO Petillant Muscat Bailey A 2025'
One of KOTO Wine Morioka's recommended wines is 'KOTO Petillant Muscat Bailey A 2025.' As the name suggests, it is a lightly sparkling petillant wine with natural sweetness preserved by stopping fermentation early. It features charming aromas and sweetness balanced by sharp fruit acidity, making it a refined sweet petillant. It pairs beautifully with meat dishes featuring sweet sauces and high-end desserts.
Monnosuke Farm
Monnosuke Farm, a small winery in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, obtained a fruit wine production license in October 2021. They produce cider, wine, and juice using homegrown fruits and are a winery to watch for future growth.
'Cidre 2024'
'Cidre 2024' is made from 100% homegrown Fuji apples. Just before bottling, apple juice is added for secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in a pure and refined cider. The apples are aged to increase sugar content, creating a fragrant and mellow flavor. Its dry taste pairs well with a wide range of meals, especially pork dishes like ginger pork, pork sauté, and braised pork.
Arpeizan Winery
Arpeizan Winery, operated by the social welfare corporation "Yuwakai" in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, was the first winery certified under the "Hanamaki Craft Wine & Cider Special Zone." It is loved by many fans as a regional icon, producing high-quality wines and ciders.
'Cidre Pomme Sucre 2023'
'Cidre Pomme Sucre 2023' is a high-quality cider blended from carefully selected homegrown apples. It uses seven varieties including Fuji, Golden Russet, and Geneva, offering a complex aroma and flavor with crisp acidity. This charming cider features not only ripe apples but also notes of white flowers and vanilla. It pairs well with Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines.
Baeren Brewery
Baeren Brewery, located in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, mainly produces craft beer and cider but is well known for its craft beers made with wine, offering unique yet easy-to-drink craft beers that stand out.
'Our Hour Rosé Sparkling Wine'
'Our Hour Rosé Sparkling Wine' is a sparkling wine made using Muscat Bailey A from Iwate Prefecture. It is crafted by 自園自醸ワイン 紫波, a collaboration between a local beer maker and a wine producer in Iwate Prefecture, making it a rare gem. The unique name, combining "Our Hour" and "sparkling," is also a highlight. You can enjoy berry aromas, fresh acidity, and pleasant bubbles, and its dry finish makes it versatile and easy to pair with a wide range of dishes. A must-try for both beer and wine lovers.
Let's boost Iwate's wine scene!
Visitors to "IWATE WINE TASTING at TOKYO 2026 いわてワインテイスティング＠東京" were surprised by the high quality of Iwate-produced wines. While Iwate Prefecture is home to many famous wineries, there are still many lesser-known emerging and small-scale wineries.
The wines introduced in this article are also available for purchase at "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
Let's work together to boost the wine culture of Iwate Prefecture.
[On-list Wine Sales Page Here]
