Visiting Kawachi Wine: A Long-Established Osaka Winery with the Theme of "Crafting 'Wa-In' (Harmonious Japanese Wine)"

First, we spoke with representative Shigeyuki Kondo in the exhibition hall on the second floor of the Wine Hall.

(Here, in a pleasant space, you can view the history Kawachi Wine has walked, including wine labels, bottles, photographs, and historical materials from Kawachi Wine's early days.)

Despite being a long-established business celebrating its 90th anniversary, they have broken away from old commercial customs and neatly streamlined their domestic sales channels.
(That explains why, considering the scale of their business, you don't see them everywhere.)
In addition to maintaining a sound Japanese wine business, they also possess a solid, action-oriented business mindset aimed overseas.
Alongside plum wine and liqueurs, brandy will also be added in earnest starting next year.
We were also shown their new distillation equipment (which is incredible), demonstrating that they are investing firmly toward the future.
Without raising his voice, he explained everything to us logically and politely in a tone overflowing with confidence.

A new photo spot featuring large, social-media-friendly barrels, which wasn't there during my previous visit, had been newly installed.
The high-ceilinged storage cellar is truly breathtaking, and the display of their entire lineup is so beautiful that you can't help but gaze at it.

Inside, there are plenty of touches designed for visitors to enjoy winery tours, as well as business secrets.

Furthermore, a brand-new storage cellar was completed, which is also amazing! They say they create new facilities every year to serve as material for staff winery tours and to bring new inspiration to visitors.
It seems there are also plans to utilize traditional kominka houses for accommodations in the future, which is something to look forward to!

Finally, we enjoyed a tasting at the wine shop on the first floor of the Wine Hall.

(In addition to the wines and plum wines on the shelves, you can also taste their premium series of wines crafted with special care that rest in the shop's wine cellar. In this bright space full of an open ambiance, you can feel the changing of the seasons through your skin and aromas.)

He mentioned that in their winemaking, rather than aiming for 100 points with some wines, they aim for 70 points across all wines! But no—they are all magnificent wines that far exceed that standard.
What we tasted were KIEI Kerner, Tokuichi Merlot, and Kintoku Wine's Delaware, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Franc.
While I had a strong impression of their Delaware, I especially loved the Cabernet Franc.
The KIEI Komagatani Delaware Orange that I bought to take home was also outstanding! By the way, KIEI is an aggressive strategic brand of Kawachi Wine derived from the phrase "shinshin-kiei" (up-and-coming / rising talent).

We don't enter award competitions, but we don't reject them either.

Part-time staff = partners walking alongside us (it's not about years of service; TOP partners receive generous compensation).

We have never put out a job posting; fans of Kawachi Wine come to work for us.

I don't know viticulture, so I have the grape growers teach me.

We value sound development and mutual prosperity with the local area (we go to learn from them, and in turn go to help when hands are needed).

COVID was tough, but conversely, it turned our management into a lean, resilient operation!

Such powerful and intriguing words left a deep impression.
Furthermore, having previously worked in apparel, I resonated strongly with their thorough "branding" and unified "design (both labels and buildings)."

Masafumi Nishiura
NIHON WINE.JP ★ Chief Coordinator ★
Vin Japonais ★ Special Advisor ★
Executive Partner, CruX Co., Ltd. (Site Operator)