On February 25, Tomi Wine Festa 2022 was held at JA Shinshu Ueda La Verite in Nagano Prefecture.
Since it was first held in 2012, this event has captivated many Japanese wine fans every year.
While it had been put on hold in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this 9th edition was held for the first time in 3 years, gathering many wine fans from inside and outside the prefecture.
From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, transfer, and it is about a 5-minute walk from Shinano Railway Tanaka Station.
Access is surprisingly good.
While this event conventionally welcomed around 2,000 participants, this year it was reportedly made reservation-based so participants could be identified for infection control purposes and other measures; even so, there were about 180 visitors in each of the first and second sessions.
Once you show your advance ticket and receive an original glass, you are free to browse each booth.
This event began from Mr. Hayakawa's wish for people to get to know local wines better.
Tasting many varieties at wallet-friendly prices of around 300 to 500 yen per glass, one could truly get to know the diverse wines and producers of Tomi.
Interview with Mr. Kazuo Hayakawa, Organizer of the Wine Festa
This event was organized by the Tomi Wine Club.
We interviewed Mr. Kazuo Hayakawa, who is in charge of operations, about holding the event for the first time in 3 years, the origins of the event, and his thoughts on the future of Tomi wine.
Mr. Kazuo Hayakawa, Operations Manager of the Tomi Wine Festa
Full of Encounters with New Faces!
With the Chikuma River Wine Academy where people study winemaking, and people gathering out of admiration for Toyoo Tamamura's "Den-en no Kairaku" (Pleasures of Rural Life), this is a region where young producers are increasing as a new wine-producing area.
Perhaps because of that, there were many vineyards and wineries we met for the first time.
In addition, local eateries also set up booths, offering many snacks that could be purchased for around a single coin (500 yen), making it a highly satisfying gathering.
List of Scheduled Exhibitors (in no particular order, honorifics omitted)
VILLA D'EST GARDEN FARM AND WINERY, Rue de Vin, Hasumi Farm & Winery, Domaine Nakajima, Arc-en-Vigne, Nagomi Vineyards, 496 Winery, Les Vins Vivants, Twill-Labo, Aperture Farm and Winery
Kodama-tei, Hiro, RO Vineyard, Agronome, Stardust Vineyard, Domaine Murayama, Yone Farm Tomi, Hikaru no Hatake, Oishii Noen, OH!LA!HO BEER
Atelier de Fromage, Chiffon Cake Kobo Fuwari., CHAY HANE Nico-chan Kebab, Rue de Vin, Italian Cuisine Nonna Ginia, Maruya, Cured Ham Workshop Jamón Yaehara, Toyahara Farm (Ristorante Kobayashi)
Tomi is delightful for the potential of encountering new wines.
It is certainly an area to keep watching!
