Nagano Prefecture is well known for having four major winery clusters.
Numerous wines representing Japan are produced across its four wine valleys: the "Kikyogahara Wine Valley," "Chikuma River Wine Valley," "Japan Alps Wine Valley," and "Tenryu River Wine Valley."
While having such a wide variety of Nagano wines to choose from is wonderful, many people might also find themselves wondering, "Which wine should I choose...?"
For those facing this dilemma, we would like to recommend the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley."
Here, let us introduce the charms of this district, home to a gathering of truly fascinating wineries.
Home to a Wide Variety of Wineries
Wine-producing regions possess diverse characteristics: some are centered around large-scale wineries, some feature a mix of large-scale and family-run wineries, and others focus primarily on premium wine production by boutique wineries.
Among them, sparked by Manns Wines starting the cultivation of Ryugan in Ueda City in 1971, the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" has become a region boasting a wide variety of wineries, ranging from large-scale operations to family-run estates, boutique wineries, and up-and-coming newcomers.
In other words, the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" is, in a sense, a "microcosm of Japanese wine," where one can enjoy an extensive range of wine styles.
We will introduce the wineries of the Chikuma River Wine Valley Eastern District in detail later, but it is quite rare to find a wine-producing region where wineries with such diverse operating styles gather in one place.
An Attractive Region Well-Suited for Growing Wine Grapes
The Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" is regarded as a region well suited for the cultivation of wine grapes.
Cultivating wine grapes is said to require conditions such as...
- Abundant sunshine hours
- A wide diurnal temperature range
- Good air circulation
- Temperatures that are neither too high nor too low (moderately cool is preferred)
- Low or moderate rainfall
- Well-drained soil...
It is considered ideal to have all these conditions in place.
With a clear sky rate of 90%, approximately 2,100 hours of annual sunshine, and an annual rainfall of around 980 mm, the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" provides an environment exceptionally well-suited for growing wine grapes.
In addition, the average annual temperature is around 9°C, and the abundance of mulberry-terraced hills provides well-draining soils, which is another notable advantage.
Incidentally, much like Bordeaux, the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" shows subtle differences in growing environments between the left and right banks of the Chikuma River, with the left bank said to be suited for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and the right bank suited for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" is a location where growers can harvest high-quality grapes with high sugar levels that also retain ample acidity and phenolic compounds.
A Region Where Famous Wineries Gather
The Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" is home to numerous celebrated wineries well known to every Japanese wine enthusiast.
First, as mentioned above, renowned large-scale wineries familiar to everyone, such as Manns Wines and Château Mercian Mariko Winery, are located in the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley."
Furthermore, one must not overlook Toyoo Tamamura's "Villa d'Est Gardenfarm and Winery," widely regarded as a pioneer who helped develop the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" into a prominent wine region.
In addition, wineries such as "Rue de Vin," owned by Hideaki Koyama, one of Japan's leading winemakers, and "Arc-en-Vigne" are also located in the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley."
Even with such an illustrious lineup, these represent only a fraction of what the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" has to offer.
It can truly be called a fascinating wine region brimming with the joy of wine selection.
Keep an Eye on Up-and-Coming Wineries Too!
The municipalities located in the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" form a wide-area Wine Special Zone, and the area is also known as a wine region with strong inter-municipal collaboration.
In addition to governmental support, it drew considerable attention with the establishment of Japan's first private wine academy, the "Chikuma River Wine Academy."
Furthermore, as individuals who trained at outside wineries or at "Villa d'Est Gardenfarm and Winery" strike out on their own to start new wineries, the area continues to expand day by day as "a region where it is easy to start making wine."
As a result, with many unique, up-and-coming wineries, it is also the perfect region for those who say, "I want niche, lesser-known Japanese wines!"
For example, there are many producers who entered winemaking from completely different backgrounds, such as Yutaka Nakajima of "Domaine Nakajima," a former systems engineer; "496 Winery," run by an owner who was a former professional cyclist; and Akira Iijima of "Atelier du Vin," who is an active neurosurgeon.
In addition...
- Funky Château
- Sakaki Budoshu Jozo
- Cave Hatano
- Tsuji Lab
- Nagomi Vineyards
- Terre de Ciel
- Hasumi Farm & Winery
Such a diverse variety of wineries are gathered here.
Incidentally, being Nagano, many wineries brew both cider and wine, and producers such as "Les Vins Vivants," "an winery," and "Tateshinapple Winery" are also popular among cider fans.
It is rare to find a single wine region where so many unique wineries gather.
For anyone who wants to find their favorite wine region, the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" is a destination we enthusiastically recommend.
Head to the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" for a Wine-Filled Journey!
In the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley," there are numerous spots that elevate the wine experience, including sightseeing trains where you can enjoy Nagano wines and "Atelier de Fromage," a sanctuary for cheese lovers.
Beyond ordering wines from the Eastern District of the "Chikuma River Wine Valley" online or purchasing them at wine shops, why not take a wine trip to visit the area in person?
Reference
Chikuma River Wine Valley Eastern District Pamphlet: "Living with Wine."
https://www.pref.nagano.lg.jp/josho/josho-shokan/kannai/gyomu/documents/2021wineismylife.pdf