"Château Mercian Mariko Winery" (hereinafter Mariko Winery) has launched a new SDGs-themed tour, the "Château Mercian Mariko Winery SDGs Tour."
This year, it will be held twice, on Saturday, September 2, and Saturday, November 11, with plans to continue hosting it about five times a year seasonally in the future.
Here are the details.
About the SDGs Tour
The "Château Mercian Mariko Winery SDGs Tour" is a tour where you can experience sustainable winemaking, an initiative Château Mercian is pursuing to realize its vision of "making Japan one of the world's renowned wine-producing regions."
SDGs Tour Details
By converting formerly abandoned land into wine grape vineyards using vertical shoot positioning (trellising) and sod culture (grass cover cropping), and by performing meticulous farming practices such as mowing undergrowth to produce better wine, the winery has created an expansive grassland environment and contributed to restoring a rich natural ecosystem where diverse living organisms, including rare species, thrive.
On this tour, winemakers themselves will guide guests through various sustainable Japanese wine-making initiatives pursued by Château Mercian alongside biodiversity, as well as the production of high-quality wines that have won numerous awards at competitions worldwide.
The tour offers hands-on experience with Mariko Winery's SDGs efforts, such as biodiversity initiatives at "Mariko Vineyard," which transformed abandoned land into a vineyard nurturing diverse plants and organisms; circular agriculture that composts and reuses grape pomace generated during vinification; the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by chipping pruned branches instead of burning them; gravity flow utilizing the land's natural slope; and the 100% transition to renewable energy for procured electricity.
They stated that by sincerely engaging in sustainable and high-quality winemaking, they aim to share wine culture with many people while enhancing the brand value and the overall value of Japanese wine.
Reference
Overview of "Château Mercian Mariko Winery SDGs Tour"
1. Dates: Saturday, September 2, 2023; Saturday, November 11, 2023 *Advance reservation required
*Planned to be held approximately 5 times a year in 2024 and beyond as well.
2. How to Reserve: Make a reservation on the tour reservation page of the "Château Mercian" brand site.
Reservations for 2023 open on Friday, July 7 at 13:00.
https://chateaumercian.com/winery/mariko/
3. Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
4. Capacity: 10–20 people (Reservation required)
5. Participation Fee: 10,000 yen per person (tax included)
6. Content: Experience initiatives toward sustainability in the expansive "Mariko Vineyard" which nurtures diverse plants and organisms,
as well as eco-friendly, sustainable winemaking at "Mariko Winery."
・Biodiversity initiatives through converting abandoned land into trellised vineyards using sod culture
・Circular agriculture initiatives
・Food education initiatives for local elementary school students
・Sustainable winemaking including gravity flow
＜Example of Wines for Tasting＞
・"Château Mercian Mariko Omnis" (Red)
・"Château Mercian Mariko Merlot" (Red)
・"Château Mercian Mariko Chardonnay" (White)
・"Château Mercian Mariko Sauvignon Blanc" (White)
*A total of 6 types, including staple wines expressing Mariko's terroir as well as winery-exclusive wines recommended by the winemaker
*Individuals under 20 years of age cannot participate (including accompanying persons).
*Those driving cars or bicycles on the day, or those who are pregnant or nursing, cannot participate in wine tasting.