The West Japan Wine Expo was held in Fukuoka City on December 13!
The expo concluded as a great success. Here is our report from the event.
Event details
Date: Friday, December 13, 2024
For restaurants and liquor retailers: 13:30–15:30
Part 1: 15:30–17:30
Part 2: 18:30–20:30
Venue: Mirai Hall, 4th Floor, Denki Building Kyosokan, 2-1-82 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Organizer: West Japan Winery Association
Supported by: Fukuoka Regional Taxation Bureau
Cooperation: Riedel Japan / CruX Co., Ltd.
The West Japan Winery Association was established in December 2019 with the aims of raising awareness and quality of Japanese wine, advancing technical skills, maintaining and expanding wine-grape vineyards, and supporting grape growers.
The association is made up of wineries from the Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions. Its chairman is Naoyuki Ota, a director of Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery Co., Ltd.
A major event that could be called the culmination of the West Japan Winery Association's activities was the “West Japan Wine Expo 2024 in Fukuoka.” It was the first event planned and operated by the wineries themselves. Thirty-five leading wineries from across Japan—from Kansai as well as Hokuriku, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu—gathered in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Higuchi-kun of Hige Danshaku joins the West Japan Wine Expo!
Higuchi-kun of the comedy duo Hige Danshaku is from Fukuoka Prefecture and is deeply knowledgeable about Japanese wine. He holds the titles of Wine Expert, Sommelier d'Honneur, and Yoichi Town Wine Ambassador.
As guest MC, he visited each winery booth and helped energize the event.
Thanks to the excellent glasses provided by event partner Riedel Japan, visitors were able to fully appreciate the wines.
Glasses were also available for purchase at the venue!
The admission ticket allowed guests to taste every wine at the venue, and wines they particularly liked could also be purchased by the bottle.
Guests were also free to bring their own snacks, making it possible to enjoy their own food pairings with Japanese wine.
Finally, here is the list of participating wineries.
There were an impressive 174 wines available for tasting!
| Vin de la Bocchi | Kanazawa, Ishikawa |
| Horaisan Winery | Toyama City, Toyama |
| Asuka Wine | Habikino, Osaka |
| Osaka Budo Wine no Sato | Osaka City, Osaka |
| Katashimo Winery | Kashiwara, Osaka |
| Kawachi Wine | Habikino, Osaka |
| Tamba Wine | Kyotamba, Funai District, Kyoto |
| Wakayama Yuasa Winery | Yuasa, Arida District, Wakayama |
| Okayama Wine Valley | Niimi, Okayama |
| Kibi Valley | Kibichuo, Kaga District, Okayama |
| Kurokamiyama Vineyard | Niimi, Okayama |
| Sapporo Beer Okayama Winery | Akaiwa, Okayama |
| Hiruzen Wine | Maniwa, Okayama |
| Daisen Winery | Hoki, Saihaku District, Tottori |
| Totto Winery | Tottori City, Tottori |
| Hojo Wine Brewery | Hokuei, Tohaku District, Tottori |
| Iwami Winery | Oda, Shimane |
| Okuizumo Vineyard | Unnan, Shimane |
| Shimane Winery | Izumo, Shimane |
| Sera Winery | Sera, Sera District, Hiroshima |
| Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery | Miyoshi, Hiroshima |
| Yamanokyo Ota Winery | Fukuyama, Hiroshima |
| Omishima Minna no Winery | Omishima, Imabari, Ehime |
| 224 Winery | Tonosho, Shozu District, Kagawa |
| Natan Wine Brewery | Miyoshi, Tokushima |
| Inoue Winery | Konan, Kochi |
| Yosakoi Winery | Kochi City, Kochi |
| Kyoho Winery | Kurume, Fukuoka |
| Itoshima Masue Winery | Itoshima, Fukuoka |
| Kumamoto Wine Farm | Kumamoto City, Kumamoto |
| Ajimu Budoushu Koubou | Usa, Oita |
| Kuju Winery | Taketa, Oita |
| Tsuno Winery | Tsuno, Koyu District, Miyazaki |
| Goto Winery | Goto, Nagasaki |
Katsuki Wines Aya, Higashimorokata District, Miyazaki