Stay at a Winery! Cave d'Occi "TRAVIGNE" Stay Report ~ A Journey to the Niigata Wine Coast ~ [Part 2]

If you love wine, delicious food, hot springs, books, travel, and hotel stays, then Cave d'Occi Winery in Niigata Prefecture is the ultimate destination that satisfies all of those passions!

Cave d'Occi is one of Niigata's most iconic wineries, boasting a rich variety of wines that have earned it a devoted fanbase.
On the winery grounds, you will find two places to stay: Travigne and VINESPA.
Just being able to stay overnight right inside a winery feels magical in itself.
Having visited this spring, I would like to report on the latest updates from my trip.

This time, I stayed at Travigne.
Designed in the style of an auberge, you can enjoy a full-course dinner featuring abundant local ingredients paired with Cave d'Occi wines in the evening.
In addition, you can use the penthouse salon, perfect for enjoying wine with a large group of friends.
A wine trip with several friendly families would also be wonderful.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed in the spacious lounge with a welcome sparkling cocktail—made, of course, with Cave d'Occi wine.
Although there was no snow, it was still a chilly day, so they welcomed us warmly with a lit fireplace and hot scented towels.

All room names are themed after the familiar animal series well-known to Cave d'Occi wine lovers.
This time, our room was "Honeybee" (Mitsubachi) 🐝
Here is what the room looked like.

Of special note is that all amenities are AVEDA ✨
Even the bath salts were lavender-scented from the Stress-Fix series.
Being able to use an entire line of AVEDA products—from cleanser to body lotion—while traveling is such a joy!
Have you ever experienced hotel shampoo not agreeing with your hair, leaving it feeling dry and stiff the next day... making you worry about your hair condition during a special trip?
It might sound like a small detail, but this attention to amenities really earns high marks when it comes to enjoying a trip in a great mood!

Now, after resting a bit in the room, we immediately took a stroll around the property.
At the Marche, in addition to Cave d'Occi wines, you can find bottles from all five wineries in the Niigata Wine Coast region.
Since they can arrange shipping for everything together, it seems like a great idea to purchase your selection here all at once.
We scouted out the wines we wanted to buy the next day.

Since there was still time before dinner, we decided to head to the hot spring, VINESPA.
Since it doubles as a book café, even if you and your companions spend different amounts of time bathing, you can relax browsing books without getting bored.
In fact, it's such a lovely space that you could easily stay for hours.

https://vinespa.jp

It was finally time for the dinner I had been so looking forward to.
Instead of taking us straight to the restaurant, the staff member led us first down into—of all places—the underground cellar!! Here, we made our toast.
An aperitif surrounded by countless bottles of wine definitely set the mood.

Next, we were guided to our table in the restaurant, and dinner officially began.
Naturally, I opted for wine pairings.
Embracing local production for local consumption, the full-course meal featured both fish and meat dishes made with Niigata ingredients.

The shrimp in the appetizer was marinated in Cave d'Occi's eau-de-vie.
Perhaps thanks to this clever touch, it paired wonderfully with "SABLE," a rich, full-bodied white wine!
I couldn't help but reflect on how moments like this really highlight the joy of wine pairing.

What's more, the main meat dish was another creation uniquely fitting for a winery!

Brought to the table inside a waterless pot was roasted Echigo beef smoked with grapevine branches and leaves!
These branches and leaves were from Cabernet Sauvignon vines.
The wine paired with it was a red "SABLE" featuring a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon.
What a stylish touch.

The final risotto course was made using Koshihikari rice from Niigata.
Making risotto with Koshihikari is notoriously difficult… because of its high moisture content, it tends to get soggy.
Yet here, the grains retained their shape and ideal firmness while tasting delicious—a true testament to a professional chef's skill, and a subtle moment of awe for me personally.

After finishing dessert, we moved to the lounge to enjoy post-dinner coffee and petits fours while taking in the night view of the vineyard. Absolute bliss.

After resting comfortably enveloped in the botanical fragrance of AVEDA and feeling thoroughly pampered, the next morning brought something to look forward to: breakfast.
This menu was also crafted using Niigata ingredients.
The placemat had descriptions explaining the origin of each ingredient, which was so interesting!
Also, decorating the board with the bread and jam were actual grapevine branches.
They are brought in from the vineyard from time to time, so depending on the season, they apparently have flowers or leaves on them.
Since it was winter this time, they were completely bare twigs..
I don't usually eat a lot for breakfast, but the freshly baked house-made bread using natural yeast and the juice were so delicious that I ended up getting seconds.

Even though I ate a bit too much, I had a busy day visiting five wineries after breakfast, so no problem at all!
You can also book a winery tour, so why not give it a try?

https://www.docci.com/movement/winerytours/

It was a thoroughly satisfying stay, making this one of my favorite auberges that I would love to visit again in a different season.
Without traveling to a distant overseas resort, you can easily enjoy an extraordinary getaway, making this a journey I highly recommend.
With the snow melting away, the coming season is sure to offer an even more refreshing experience!

https://www.docci.com

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