A lot of Japanese wine is also produced in Western Japan.
Among the many wine regions in Western Japan, one place that particularly deserves attention is Okayama Prefecture.
Also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," the prefecture is famous for its flourishing viticulture and well-known for producing high-quality wines.
Here, for those who say, "I've recently come to love Japanese wine!", we will share the charms of Okayama Prefecture as a wine-producing region.
An Ideal Region for Viticulture!
Grape growing in Okayama Prefecture has a long history, said to date back approximately 130 years.
Although there was a continuous series of failures when grapes were first introduced, in 1886 greenhouse cultivation—groundbreaking at the time—was adopted.
They succeeded in greenhouse cultivation of Muscat of Alexandria, which represents Okayama Prefecture, for the first time in Japan.
Through farmers who inherited the passion, effort, and techniques of their predecessors, grape-growing areas spread throughout the prefecture, growing into one of Japan's major leading grape-producing regions.
Okayama Prefecture is known for the high quality of its table grapes and is a treasure trove of high-end grapes such as Muscat of Alexandria, New Pione, and Shine Muscat.
Furthermore, it is also known for introducing new varieties, and in recent years, for harvesting high-quality wine grapes.
The reasons for this include not only the aforementioned transmission of techniques from predecessors, but also
- A warm climate
- Abundant sunny days
- Few climatic disasters such as typhoons
and other natural climatic conditions considered ideal for grape growing.
Incidentally, Okayama Prefecture is so famous for its many sunny days that it is called the "Land of Sunshine."
Considering that grape production volume is not only high but that much of it trades at high prices, one can clearly see that Okayama Prefecture is a region well-suited to grape cultivation.
What Is Niimi City, a Must-See for Japanese Wine Fans!?
Okayama Prefecture, a region suitable for viticulture.
In recent years, the high quality of Okayama-produced wine has also been drawing attention.
Speaking of wineries in Okayama Prefecture...
- domaine tetta
- La Grande Colline Japon
- Okayama Wine Valley
- coltrada
- Kurokamiyama Vineyard
- Hiruzen Winery
- Funao Winery
- Korezato Winery
- Sapporo Wine Okayama Winery
among others.
You might imagine that these wineries are scattered all across Okayama, but they are concentrated in a place called "Niimi City." (along with Maniwa City, Kurashiki City, and others)
Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, is a noteworthy region that combines all the potential needed to produce outstanding wine.
Here is a brief look at the reasons why.
About Niimi City
Niimi City in Okayama Prefecture was formed in 2005 through the merger of Niimi City and four towns in Atetsu District.
Located in the northwestern corner of Okayama Prefecture along the backbone of the Chugoku Mountains, it is characterized by its undulating terrain.
It is known as a nature-rich town in the headwaters of the Takahashi River, with forests covering approximately 87% of its total area.
Feature ① of Niimi City: Cool Climate
The first characteristic of Niimi City is its low temperatures.
Even within Okayama Prefecture, celebrated as the "Land of Sunshine," it ranks among the coldest areas, with an average annual temperature of 12.9℃ (Niimi) and 11.6℃ (Chiya). (Okayama Prefecture's average annual temperature is 16.3℃ *Source: Japan Meteorological Agency website, 2018)
Furthermore, while Okayama Prefecture's maximum temperature reached 38.1℃, it remained lower in Niimi City at 36.6℃ (Niimi) and 34.5℃ (Chiya).
Today, wine regions around the world tend to seek out cool-climate locations, and Niimi City is, in a sense, the premier cool-climate region within the prefecture.
With most of the city situated at elevations of 400m to 600m, one can appreciate the high potential for harvesting delicate and highly complex wine grapes.
Feature ② of Niimi City: Limestone Soil
The southern part of Niimi City: Tetta.
This is an area where wineries are concentrated, and it is actually characterized by karst topography composed of limestone.
Consequently, it features limestone caves and is said to be popular as a tourist destination.
This karst calcareous soil (limestone and red clay) is rich in minerals, and the key point is that it offers excellent drainage.
Similar to South Australia's famous wine region "Coonawarra," red soil known as terra rossa covers the surface, providing an environment so well-suited to growing wine grapes that it makes one wonder, "Did such a place really exist in Japan?"
The single most crucial factor in viticulture is good drainage.
Given that famous wine-producing regions, including France, are renowned for their limestone soils, one can easily see why Niimi City is an ideal region.
The Wide Variety of Wines to Enjoy Is Also an Attraction!
The appeal of Okayama wine is that you can enjoy a wide variety of wines.
The wines produced in Tetta, Niimi City by domaine tetta and Okayama Wine Valley are of high quality, showcasing the high potential of Japanese wine.
Additionally, producers like La Grande Colline Japon craft vin nature and enjoy charismatic popularity.
On the other hand, there are also major players like Sapporo Wine Okayama Winery, making it easy to find wines that even Japanese wine beginners can enjoy.
Furthermore, wines made from Muscat of Alexandria by this winery and Funao Winery are varieties you will rarely find in other regions.
Far from being uniform, the fact that a wide variety of wine styles are crafted is another great charm of Okayama wine.
Let's Drink Okayama Prefecture Wine
When thinking of wine, you might strongly picture Yamanashi, Nagano, Hokkaido, or Tohoku, but Western Japan is actually full of charm as well.
If you have not yet tasted wine from Okayama, why not check out the wineries in the prefecture right away!?
References
JA Hare no Kuni Okayama
https://www.ja-hareoka.or.jp/specialty/budou.html
About Niimi | Migration & Settlement E-Kurashi Niimi
https://www.city.niimi.okayama.jp/akurashi/pages/niimitte/index.html
domaine tetta
http://tetta.jp/