Nagano
長野県 塩尻市
Official Website
OFFICIAL WEBSITEizutsuwine.co.jpSince its founding as a wine producer in Kikyogahara, Shinshu, in 1933,
the winery has spent more than 75 years growing and harvesting grapes throughout Kikyogahara,
carrying out the entire process from vinification through bottling.
It continues to pursue the quality and value of wine rooted in this land.
Izutsu Winery is located in Kikyogahara, at an elevation of about 700 meters in a corner of the Matsumoto Plain overlooking the Northern Alps, near the geographical center of Nagano Prefecture. Around the winery’s large brick-colored triangular roof stretches a broad landscape of vineyards trained on the overhead trellis system distinctive to Japan.
Concord and Niagara grapes have long been local specialties grown for fresh consumption. Wines made from these varieties have established a distinctive place in the Japanese market through their natural, approachable fruit character and styles such as new wine and wines made without added antioxidants. They have become recognized not merely as Kikyogahara wines or local wines, but as products with a character and value all their own.
At the same time, the winery began early to introduce classic European wine-grape varieties. Continued efforts led to the successful cultivation of several major varieties, and Merlot from Kikyogahara in particular has won awards at international competitions, helping the region gain worldwide recognition as a wine-growing area.
PHOTO — NIHONWINE.JP editorial
SOURCE — NIHONWINE.JP editorial