On Wednesday, October 6, 2021.
The Minami-Alps Mountain Bike Enthusiasts Club harvested wine grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, which were cultivated using abandoned farmland.
On that day, after the harvest, the club members brought the grapes to Domaine Hide, a winery in Minami-Alps City that crafts exclusively high-end red wines, and reportedly experienced the vinification process of treading the grapes by foot to extract the juice.
Here is an account of the event.
Background of the Initiative
The Minami-Alps Mountain Bike Enthusiasts Club is an organization active in promoting mountain bikes (hereafter "MTB") in Japan.
The cultivation of wine grapes was reportedly initiated in 2017 with the aim of creating new local value while resolving a social issue, after the club heard local voices expressing distress that "abandoned farmland is increasing and causing problems."
Because heavily overgrown, resilient weeds thrive in once-abandoned farmland, it took two to three years to build soil suitable for grape cultivation, and while fruit set occurred last year, disease prevented any harvest at all.
This time, after overcoming various failures and hardships, they were reportedly able to welcome the first harvest of grapes filled with the club's passion.
Toward the Release of "Japan's First Mountain Bike Wine"
The wine prepared at Domaine Hide this time is scheduled for completion in February 2022.
Going forward, the Minami-Alps Mountain Bike Enthusiasts Club plans to acquire a liquor sales license and other credentials, increase the grape harvest yield, and sell this "Japan's first mountain bike wine" as a new local resource.
The club continues to contribute to the revitalization of Yamanashi Prefecture and Minami-Alps City through MTB.
We look forward to watching how this project unfolds and seeing what kind of wine will ultimately be produced.
Reference
General Incorporated Association Minami-Alps Yamamoribito
https://www.minamialpsmtb.com
Harvest Event Overview
◆ Name: Minami-Alps Mountain Bike Enthusiasts Club Wine Grape Harvest
◆ Date and Time: Wednesday, October 6, 2021, 9:00 - 12:00
◆ Location: Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture
◆ Purpose: Eliminating abandoned farmland and revitalizing the local community
◆ Content: Grape harvesting, vinification work, etc.
◆ Grape Variety: "Cabernet Sauvignon" for red wine
◆ Number of Participants: 15 people
◆ Organizer: Minami-Alps Mountain Bike Enthusiasts Club (General Incorporated Association Minami-Alps Yamamoribito)
◆ Cooperation: Domaine Hide (https://www.domainehide.com/),
Sawadaya (http://www.kurodama.co.jp/), Bakery Louvre (https://bakery-louvre.com/)