
Terroir
—Katsunuma, the birthplace of Japanese wine—\n\nKatsunuma is known as one of the earliest places in Japan where grapes were cultivated.\n\nBy the Edo period, Koshu grapes were being carried from Katsunuma to Edo along the Koshu Kaido road. Katsunuma lies on an alluvial fan along the Hikawa River, giving it well-drained soils, while its location facing the Kofu Basin creates large day-night temperature differences.\n\nIt also enjoys some of Japan’s longest sunshine hours and relatively low rainfall.\n\nFor these reasons, the area has long been considered ideal for fruit growing, especially grapes. From the Meiji era onward, Katsunuma developed as a center of Japanese winemaking, with Koshu becoming one of its principal varieties.












