NIHONWINE

The term “natural wine” has become widely recognized, and in Japan it has many devoted fans; wine shops and restaurants now often treat it as a category of its own.

Akiu Winery is about a 30-minute drive from central Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, in a corner of Akiu Onsen, a renowned hot-spring destination. Since opening in 2015, the winery has continued to make wines that express the character of this place.

For some time, Chikafusa Mori, representative of Akiu Winery, has been developing the idea of “Terroage.” The word is Mori’s own coinage, combining “Terroir” and “Mariage,” and describes an experience of tasting an entire place—its people, land, landscape, and culture.

About a 30-minute drive from central Sendai, Akiu Onsen has long been loved as “Sendai’s inner retreat.” This celebrated hot-spring area has a history of around 1,500 years, yet remains close enough to the city for an easy escape into a completely different landscape.

A blind-tasting seminar led by Reeze Choi, Asia’s No. 1 Sommelier, at Vinexpo Asia 2026 filled up immediately. No wonder: the theme was Pinot Noir, a grape beloved by wine enthusiasts.