We visited Kazuto Kitani, representative of Kitani Wine in Nara Prefecture, at his vineyard in Tenri.
The "Osaka Wine Fes 2023" had been held the day before, and we apologized for troubling him despite his fatigue.
Mr. Kitani trained at Katashimo Winery in Osaka and became independent as a wine grape grower in 2018.
This vineyard is located near the Meihan Expressway, planted with Monde Briller, Bijou Noir, Pinot Noir, and other varieties.
Although the temperature fluctuation is said to be relatively small, maintenance seems difficult with a bamboo grove nearby.
"I want to express the terroir of Nara, where I was born and raised, in the form of wine. I want people who love Nara to taste the wine made that way. With that desire, I aim to establish a winery to turn grapes born in Nara into wine in Nara."
While this is stated on the website, the winery near his home is already completed!
Since it is a bit of a distance from this vineyard, we could not visit it this time, but we hope to visit next time.
Mr. Kitani says, "It is impossible with only our own grapes, so naturally we also use purchased grapes."
"However, growing grapes myself (including turning abandoned farmland into vineyards) is my motivation for making good wine!"
Five years after becoming independent and planting grapes, he has finally reached the starting line, and relief and confidence from establishing Nara's very first winery showed on his face.
We will continue to support him, in our own small way.
Masafumi Nishiura
NIHON WINE.JP ★ Chief Coordinator ★
Vin Japonais ★ Special Advisor ★
Executive Partner of CruX Co., Ltd., operator of this site
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