777, 943, 115, UCD5, MV6—what do these numbers mean?
Anyone who has studied wine, or is a truly devoted wine enthusiast, may recognize them as Pinot Noir clone names.
Even among people familiar with their characteristics, however, few will have had the chance to taste Pinot Noir from each clone side by side.
On Sunday, July 6 in Shiodome, Tokyo, a special winemaker dinner will offer exactly that clone-by-clone comparative tasting.
The person behind this highly specialized event is Takashi Yokomachi, representative of Vinoble Vineyard in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, which is entering its fifth year since opening.
Yokomachi’s wines already have many fans, with a growing number becoming difficult to obtain.
The reason is clear: in only about four years, the winery has accumulated a remarkable list of visible domestic and international achievements.
Soon after opening, its Sauvignon Blanc won Gold with 95 points at IWSC, ranking at the top globally, which drew significant attention at the time.
Since then the winery has continued winning awards, and its wines were selected for the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit and as welcome sparkling wine aboard the Setouchi luxury cruise ship guntû.
Linkhttps://nihonwine.jp/winerys-voice/interview/vinoblevineyard-interview-202307/
Yokomachi has also received many offers for winemaker dinners overseas in recent years, including Michelin-starred restaurants in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan, including planned events.
A chance to experience his wines in Tokyo should therefore be unmissable for fans.
Here are the details.
Winemaker Dinner Overview
Date: Sunday, July 6 — doors 17:00, dinner begins 17:30
Venue: Momentum by Porsche, Shiodome, Tokyo
1F Shiodome City Center, 1-5-2 Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, next to Porsche Studio Ginza
https://porsche.tokyo/access/
Price: ¥30,000 including tax and service
Capacity: Limited to 20 seats
Guest: Takashi Yokomachi, Representative Director, Vinoble Vineyard
Contents: Eight wines, five dishes, plus petit-four gift
Pinot Noir Clone-by-Clone Comparative Tasting
Yokomachi is not only a winemaker but also a vine-plant specialist and is well known as a clone enthusiast.
For Pinot Noir in particular, he vinifies several clones separately each year.
In 2024 he barrel-aged and bottled 777, 943, 115, UCD5 and MV6 separately.
Whether these wines will ever be sold generally is still undecided, but they will be unveiled specially at this dinner.
Orders will also be accepted exclusively on the day.
Yokomachi’s regular Pinot Noir is also highly regarded.
At IWSC 2025, Chardonnay Barrel Fermentation 2023 won Silver and Pinot Noir 2023 won Bronze.
Vinoble Vineyard was the only Japanese wine producer to win an award for Pinot Noir.
Its popular regular Pinot Noir 2024 will also be served.
The dinner will also feature the recently released Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Sparkling 2021 aged for 42 months, and, naturally for a Yokomachi event, Sauvignon Blanc 2024, paired with Italian cuisine.
Almost Like a Lecture: A Deep Talk Program
This will be the third winemaker dinner at the restaurant. Participants in the previous two have said things such as, “It felt like attending a seminar,” and “The handout is something to keep.”
This time too, guests will hear Yokomachi speak in depth about the winery, winemaking and clones while actually tasting the clone-specific wines, making the experience especially valuable.
The dishes will also be prepared with pairings for Yokomachi’s wines in mind.
Scene from a previous event
The event should interest not only wine enthusiasts but also professionals working in the industry.
Only 20 seats are available.
If you are interested, reserve quickly.
*For details and reservations, contact the restaurant.
The Momentum by Porsche TEL. 03-6280-6785
