On Saturday, July 4, 2026, the Fonz Group will begin selling the first-vintage wines from its estate vineyard, FZ farm Furusato Vineyard.
Sales will begin the same day at Fonz Group restaurants, the Sawamura Online Store, and Suju Masayuki Shoten. A free tasting event will also be held at Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyukaruizawa.
About the Fonz Group Wines
Last May, the Fonz Group took over a historic vineyard in the Chikuma River Wine Valley and began a new approach to grape growing under the name FZ farm Furusato Vineyard.
The vineyard completed its first harvest last autumn, and its inaugural contract-produced vintage has now been completed for release this summer.
The wines are described as fresh, juicy Japanese wines with abundant fruit character.
About the First Vintage
FZ farm Furusato Vineyard grows four varieties: Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
This year, six wines across four styles—pétillant, white, red, and rosé—were vinified at three wineries.
The lineup is:
◇ Chardonnay & Riesling 2025
◇ Chardonnay 2025 a
◇ Chardonnay 2025 n
◆ Merlot Rosé 2025
◆ Merlot 2025
◆ Cabernet Sauvignon 2025
A free tasting event will be held in Kyukaruizawa on Saturday, July 4.
At Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyukaruizawa, visitors can taste all six wines, sample Sawamura’s stone-ground and wood-fired bread, and purchase limited drinks and raisin sandwiches made with grapes from the estate vineyard.
If you are interested, be sure to check it out.
Reference
Fonz Co., Ltd.
Address: 1075-47 Karuizawa, Karuizawa, Kitasaku, Nagano
Website: https://www.fonz.jp/
FZ farm Furusato Vineyard
Address: 53 Tomitake, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Area: Approximately 2.8 ha
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fzfarm_furusatovineyard/
Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyukaruizawa
Address: 12-18 Karuizawa, Karuizawa, Kitasaku, Nagano
Website: https://b-sawamura.com/