A Light Bringing Radiance to Japanese Wine Culture: Visiting Lumiere

Lumière, located in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a historic winery established 138 years ago in 1885.
It was originally founded in 1885 by Noriyoshi Furuya as Furuya Winery.
Since then, its name has changed to Shingen-jirushi Koshuen, Koshuen, and finally the current Lumière.
All of these refer to the winery known today as Lumière.

Let's take a closer look at the appeal of this winery, which has been cherished for 138 long years.

When taking Lumière's winery tour (reservation required, fee applies), the most impressive highlight is undoubtedly the stone fermentation vats built in 1901.
They were constructed under the guidance of the legendary Denbei Kamiya, who invested his personal fortune to build Japan's first large-scale winery in that same era.
Built in an age before stainless steel existed, they were crafted from acid-resistant granite.
Their dimensions are: width 1.65m, depth 3.6m, height 2.25mm, large enough to fit several people inside.

These stone fermentation vats were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties in 1998.
This recognition prompted the decision to use these stone fermentation vats once again, and remarkably, wine is still brewed in them once a year today.
Furthermore, in 2018, they were designated as Japan Heritage cultural properties as well.

Every year in mid-September, they hold a winemaking event, and once the wine made there is finished, it is sent to participants with a commemorative label.
This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, September 16.
If you are interested, please contact Lumière directly.

Some areas use vertical trellises, others overhead trellises, and even among the overhead systems, the training methods vary.
At first glance, Lumière's vineyards appear to be full of variety.
They gradually expanded by purchasing farmland bit by bit, maintaining each plot using the method best suited to that land.
Including the grounds held since their founding, the total area now covers about 4 hectares.

What all of these have in common is "not applying anything unnecessary".
To bring out the natural qualities of the grapes, they adhere strictly to an approach that is as close to nature as possible.
As a result, a wide variety of weeds grow to a respectable height underfoot—a practice known as cover cropping.
Furthermore, through "no-till farming," which avoids artificial tilling, soil preparation is carried out, and as a result,an environment of "biodiversity" where diverse organisms coexist is preserved, creating soil rich in numerous microorganisms.
In this way,insect damage to the grapes above ground is reduced, while soft, well-draining soil is created below ground.

As for the vineyard, I was struck by how neatly aligned the trellis structures were.
While the vines are grown on overhead trellises planted at each post, they are managed in neat rows similar to a hedge-style system.

They carry out cultivation while keeping in mind that "anyone should be able to manage it."
Because this winery is built to last for generations, they place great value on this kind of forward-looking mindset.

Red wine is not the only thing you should try at Lumière.
Their sparkling wines and Koshu white wines unique to Yamanashi are also very popular.
Inside the winery, alongside tanks and presses, equipment such as racking machinery is installed, producing a wide range of sparkling wines.

From crisp, refreshing Koshu sparkling to rich Blanc de Noirs made from Cabernet Sauvignon, there is a wide variety!
With so many styles being produced, selecting a bottle to suit your preferences or the occasion is part of the fun.

Additionally, cider is the very first thing crafted each year.
Made from "Tsugaru" apples harvested in early August from the Nirasaki area, it is scheduled to be released relatively soon after fermentation.
This allows you to enjoy fresh, vibrant cider, which is another popular offering.

Varieties like Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, and Petit Manseng—which they are working with in response to recent climate changes in Yamanashi—are also varieties worth watching.
Furthermore, a rare variety called "Mills" features a distinctive sweet-and-sour, lychee-like aroma.
It was a charming wine that you rarely get to taste anywhere else (it seems like it would pair wonderfully with ethnic cuisine!).

Lumière is a winery that produces wonderful wines in every era, carefully preserving history and culture while keeping a close eye on changing times and adapting flexibly.
You can sense the history through red wines made in stone fermentation vats registered as a Japan Heritage site, or traditional Koshu whites unique to Yamanashi Prefecture. Or you can try wines blended with varieties like Tannat and Tempranillo, which have been increasing recently.
Why not taste and experience the history and evolution of Japanese wine for yourself?

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https://nihonwine.jp/winery_intro/lumiere/