Natural Wine Pioneer Isabelle Legeron on "RAW WINE TOKYO 2026" — Held This Year on May 10 and 11!

RAW WINE TOKYO 2026, the international natural wine fair eagerly anticipated by natural wine fans, will be held on May 10 and 11. Ahead of the event, a press conference was held in Tokyo.
Organizer Isabelle Legeron took the stage to speak about the event's philosophy and this year's highlights.

We conducted several interviews covering topics such as where Japanese natural wine stands today and thoughts on its quality.
Please take a look.

RAW WINE started in London in 2011 and has expanded worldwide to cities such as Paris, Berlin, and New York. This Tokyo edition marks the 59th overall and the 3rd to be held in Japan.

More than 75 producers from around the world are scheduled to participate this year. In addition, 25 wineries and sake breweries from Japan will join, making it a venue where international reach and local presence intersect.

The defining characteristic of RAW WINE is that it gathers only producers who share a clear philosophy toward wine.

The criteria are "organic farming as a minimum in the vineyard" and "minimal intervention in winemaking."

- Organic farming (minimum requirement)
- No additives used (yeasts, enzymes, coloring agents, etc.)
- Sulfites kept to an absolute minimum
- No sterilization or heavy filtration

In other words, the goal is to make wine that is as close as possible to "fermented grape juice itself."

Legeron views wine as a "living entity."
By not excessively eliminating microorganisms and instead encapsulating the local environment, wine mirrors the life of that land in the glass. The philosophy is that "life," including bacteria, exists there, and that is precisely what terroir is.

Another pillar championed by RAW WINE is "transparency."

Conventional wines have no ingredient labeling, meaning consumers cannot know what is inside just by looking at the bottle.
RAW WINE addresses this by disclosing information such as sulfite levels and whether filtration or fining was performed, presenting clear criteria for consumer choice.
This approach is rare globally, and creating an environment where one "can know" is an objective in itself.

This Tokyo edition features an extremely exciting program, in addition to the wines available for tasting.

Masterclasses held twice daily will address themes such as "Natural Sake" and "The Challenges of Natural Wine in Japan."

In the case of sake in particular, producing organic rice is extremely difficult, and only a limited number of producers currently do so.
Furthermore, natural wine in Japan faces high cultivation hurdles due to climatic conditions (heavy rainfall, cold weather, and frost damage), and masterclasses have been arranged as opportunities to understand this context.
Takahiko Soga (Domaine Takahiko), Kimikatsu Kazuki (Kazuki Wines), Yuzo Fukushima (Musashi Winery), and Takahiro Suga (winemaker), among others, are scheduled to appear.

We asked Legeron how visitors should navigate and enjoy an event featuring hundreds of different wines.

She explained, "While doing some prior research on the online map is important, what matters most is 'looking at the people.' Observing the producers' expressions and demeanor, the intuitive rapport that emerges, and choosing according to that 'human chemistry' is the essential way to enjoy RAW WINE."

Nature, terroir, transparency, and biodiversity.
Amid global market shifts, how far will this philosophy spread? The 3rd Tokyo edition is drawing keen attention as an occasion that demonstrates where it stands today.

Tickets available here

https://www.rawwine.com/fairs/tokyo-2026/ticketing-information?currency=JPY

Official Website

https://www.rawwine.com/fairs/tokyo-2026?currency=JPY

RAW WINE TOKYO 2026 Event Details

Dates: May 10 and 11, 2026

Venue: Tokyo Ryutsu Center Co., Ltd., Exhibition Hall F, Building 2, 6-1-1 Heiwajima, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Inquiries: hello@rawwine.com (Japanese is welcome!)
Social Media: @rawwineworld

Early Bird Ticket Sales Period: February 11, 2026 (11:30) – March 4, 2026 (22:30) *JST
General Sales (for trade and public visitors): March 4, 2026 (16:30) – until sold out