For almost a month, from November 7, the traditional start of winter known as Ritto, through November 30, Seijo Ishii will hold its seasonal “Ritto Fair.”
This annual favorite returns with a theme that plays on the Japanese characters for Ritto: “Ritto = Lighting Up Winter.”
As the weather grows colder, the fair proposes ways to brighten and enrich the winter table through pairings of cheese and wine. It is sure to catch the attention of many readers.
Let’s take a closer look.
Wine and Cheese Professionals Propose a Seasonal “Wardrobe Change” for the Table
A distinctive feature of this fair is that it goes beyond cheese and wine on their own, focusing instead on pairing prepared and processed cheese dishes with Seijo Ishii’s own imported wines. As a big fan of Seijo Ishii’s prepared foods, this is an especially exciting concept for this writer.
Seijo Ishii employs both sommeliers and cheese professionals, who develop new products and make pairing suggestions in stores. The lineup for this fair was reportedly selected after the company’s specialists repeatedly tasted both the wines and foods in pursuit of the best flavor harmony, so the pairings should be highly reliable.
POP displays next to the products clearly show the recommended combinations in stores, making shopping reassuringly easy.
“Cheese is not simply an ingredient; it is a key element of harmony that expands the world of cooking. We want customers to experience the synergy it can create with wine.” says Sayuri Kobayashi, deputy general manager of the merchandising department.
The Best Balance of Quality and Price Through In-House Importing and Production
With the weak yen and rising transportation costs making the environment for imported foods increasingly difficult, wine and cheese are among the products most affected.
Seijo Ishii, however, combines its own importing and trading capabilities with its central kitchen’s production and processing functions to achieve both “accessible prices” and “restaurant-quality flavor.”
The fair also features a clever choice for the indispensable “nouveau,” or new wine, of the Ritto season: nouveau from Australia in the Southern Hemisphere, which can arrive by sea in time for this period. The wines were developed by Seijo Ishii’s buyers together with the winery Qualisa.
Two different nouveaux were served at the tasting event.
From left: Johnny Q Nouveau Premium 2025 / Johnny Q Nouveau 2025
A Winter Marriage of Prepared Foods and Wine
Now let’s introduce some of the pairings we experienced at the tasting, with a focus on the combinations that stood out most.
◾️“Seijo Ishii House-Made Tomato Sauce Pasta with Italian Ricotta and Basil” × “Johnny Q Nouveau 2025”
First, the wine. Its rich fruit and concentration live up to the impression suggested by its appearance, producing an immediate “delicious!” response from the first sip. Because it comes from Australia, there is enough time for the wine to mature and develop quality before release, but does that mean it loses the freshness expected of a nouveau? There is no need to worry. It still shows clear strawberry- and banana-like aromas associated with carbonic maceration. The tannins are restrained in the style of a new wine, making it easy to enjoy at the everyday table.
The suggested pasta pairing balances the richness of ricotta, tomato acidity, and the freshness of basil. The wine is not too heavy, and its charming berry aromas work particularly well with the basil.
◾️“Seijo Ishii Cream Cheese Marinated in Tamari Soy Sauce” × “Veuve Henri Brut”
This crisp, dry French sparkling wine has a light impression that makes it ideal for opening a festive meal.
It shows a pleasing degree of maturity, and its fine yet energetic bubbles make sense given that it undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. The fact that it is available for ¥2,080 including tax is surprising.
The cream cheese paired with it is impressive because the tamari soy sauce penetrates all the way through, giving it an even flavor. The clean bubbles refresh the palate after the rich, smooth cream cheese, while the umami of both elements harmonizes and lingers through a long finish.
Japanese Wine Is Worth Checking Out, Too
Seijo Ishii’s wine sections are impressively well stocked. Although the exact selection varies somewhat by store, shoppers can encounter a broad range of wines, from Old World to New World and from casual bottles to high-end selections. Some wine lovers may find themselves lingering longer than planned.
At the Azabu-Juban store we visited, newly released Koshu from Yamanashi Nouveau, launched on November 3, was on the shelves. With refreshing citrus bitterness and fruitiness, it seems likely to pair beautifully with Seijo Ishii Cream Cheese Marinated in Tamari Soy Sauce.
In Closing
Seijo Ishii’s Ritto Fair proposes the whole package: “price,” “flavor,” and “pairing.”
Even if you are short on time or do not have specialist wine knowledge, simply visiting the store makes it easy to see which dishes and wines go together and to enjoy seasonal flavors to the full.
Why not give your winter table a small, easy touch of luxury with the fair beginning on Ritto, November 7?
【Seijo Ishii Holds “Ritto Fair — Delicious Winter Preparations with Cheese and Wine” for the Start of Winter: A Diverse Cheese Lineup Using the Company’s Unique System Despite Rising Prices】