Brand's products SHINSHU TAKAYAMA WINERY

Founded in November 2015

Production: 70,000 bottles

◼Investment by 13 winegrowers and support from the village of Takayama

◼Promotion of high-quality grapes from the village of Takayama

Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir

The Shinshu Takayama winery is located in the village of Takayama, in the north of Nagano Prefecture, close to the Japanese Alps. Spring brings the scent of pure white apple blossoms that stand out against the fresh greenery of Japan. Summer brings clear air and bright sunshine, contrasting sharply with the coolness of the starry nights. Autumn offers a breathtaking carpet of colorful trees. Winter brings silence and a white world, accompanied by the sound of animals' footsteps. The vines savor every moment. They have withstood difficult conditions, growing under intense drought, blessed rains, and freezing temperatures.

A thriving estate formed by a group of cultivation specialists

Shinshu Takayama Winery was created thanks to the investment of 13 winegrowers who came together to produce their own wine, convinced of the quality of the grapes from the village of Takayama. The winemaker is Eiichi Takano. He was also the first buyer of Chardonnay planted in an alpine village in 1996. Mr. Takano, who was then enrolled in a winery in Katsunuma, was responsible for winemaking. As a winemaker who knows the grapes of Takayama better than anyone else, he has built a strong relationship of trust with local farmers, and shortly after the winery was established, he won numerous awards at national competitions such as the Japan Wine Competition and international competitions held in England and France. His wines have received high praise, including being served at international summits.

Careful management of 40 vineyard plots

Shinshu Takayama grows its grapes on 40 plots located at an altitude of 450 meters. As the ripeness of the grapes varies considerably from one plot to another, when harvesting is scheduled across all plots, the vines are tasted every day, the umami components contained in the grapes are analyzed scientifically, and the timing of the harvest is determined by combining the values and taste.

The Takayama Village vineyard, which initially covered about 3 hectares in 1996, has expanded to 64 hectares in 2022 thanks to the efforts of 34 winegrowers, making it one of the largest wine-growing areas in the prefecture. The wine grapes grown in Takayama Village, Nagano Prefecture, are fermented in cellars located both inside and outside the village, and regularly win prestigious awards at wine competitions in Japan and abroad. As a result, the quality potential of the grapes from this region (natural environment x winegrowers) is attracting increasing interest.