Iwate Prefecture is one of the important producing regions for Japanese wine.
It is known as a noteworthy wine-producing region where all three conditions crucial for winemaking—"heaven, earth, and humankind"—come together.
Now, about this Iwate wine.
On Thursday, September 9, from 19:00, the online lecture "Exploring the Charms of Iwate Wine", hosted by the NHK Culture Center Morioka Branch, will be held.
Let us introduce what kind of lecture it will be.
Discover the Charms of Iwate Wine!
Wines from Iwate Prefecture are said to be special wines born from Paleozoic geology.
The prefecture possesses geological strata dating from 200 million years ago (northern part of the prefecture) to 500 million years ago (southern part), and its bedrock is said to be diverse, ranging from Paleozoic marine sedimentary metamorphic rocks and limestone to Cenozoic igneous rocks such as granite.
Furthermore, it is quite a rare wine-producing region even within Japan, where old and new geological strata intermingle, also featuring rare serpentinite rich in magnesium.
Unique grapes and wines born from complex soils.
Through this online lecture, you may discover secrets of Iwate Prefecture that are not usually known.
The Guest Is "Kuzumaki Wine"!
Appearing as the guest speaker this time is Keisuke Okubo, Production Director of Iwate Kuzumaki Wine Co., Ltd., a representative winery of Iwate Prefecture.
It is one of the long-established wineries founded in 1986, dedicated for 36 years to winemaking from "yama-budo" (wild crimson glory vine)—a practice with few precedents—and is known as a winery recognized nationwide after repeated trial and error.
Mr. Okubo, invited as the guest speaker this time, has a background of studying winemaking in Germany and boasts 24 years of experience as a winemaker.
As a highly capable winemaker in the prefecture trusted by many and frequently sought after for contract winemaking from various regions, you may be able to hear about the secrets of Iwate grapes and his meticulous winemaking techniques.
Wines Delivered in Advance!
For the online lecture "Exploring the Charms of Iwate Wine," two bottles of wine will be delivered to your home beforehand.
The bottles arriving this time are items from "Iwate Kuzumaki Wine."
★ Iwate Kuzumaki Wine Hoshi
A rare dry wine made from freeze-concentrated juice of the Seyval 9110 grape variety. It features a rich aroma and refreshing acidity.
A limited-production wine that won a Bronze Medal at the 23rd Japan Wine Challenge
★ Iwate Kuzumaki Wine Ao
A red wine made from the yama-budo cross variety Shokoshi. You can enjoy the wild flavor characteristic of yama-budo-based wines.
The label calligraphy is by actor Takuro Tatsumi.
Become a Japanese Wine Connoisseur with an In-Depth Lecture!
The lecturer this time is wine coordinator Fujiko Fukui.
Although born and raised in Tokyo, she had her heart captivated by Iwate's delicious foods and married into Morioka decades ago through fate—making her the perfect lecturer for this occasion.
"Exploring the Charms of Iwate Wine" will be held on Thursday, September 9, from 19:00 to 20:00.
The lecture fee ranges from 8,740 yen to 10,995 yen including tax for NHK Culture Center members and general participants (no enrollment fee required).
The charms of Iwate Prefecture, a region commanding attention.
By all means, let's explore the charms of Japanese wine one step further!
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