Yamabudo, the Principal Grape Variety
Kuzumaki Town lies in northern Iwate Prefecture at 40° north latitude. Forests cover 86% of the town, which has an average annual temperature of about 8.5°C, annual precipitation of roughly 1,095 mm, and around 1,259 hours of sunshine per year. With an average elevation of 735 meters, it has a cool highland climate.\n\nSince its founding in 1985, Iwate Kuzumaki Wine has made wine from 100% Japanese grapes, with native yamabudo as its principal variety. The winery seeks to maximize each grape’s individuality, aroma, and flavor.\n\nYamabudo has grown wild in this region since ancient times. By using both yamabudo and its hybrid varieties, understanding the characteristics of each, and adapting vinification accordingly, the winery aims to unlock the grape’s potential and create distinctive wines. For yamabudo wines, it uses a method in which the crushed grape mass is heated before pressing and the resulting juice is fermented, encouraging the development of fruity, sweet aromas.\n\nThe vigorous yamabudo vines are trained using a single-cordon short-spur system to balance nutrients and improve fruiting. Although many vineyard sites were originally idle farmland within Kuzumaki and are not naturally ideal growing sites, this cultivation method makes it possible to produce yamabudo with high sugar levels.