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- [Feature] Yamagata wine to enjoy at home! (Nanyo edition)
[Feature] Yamagata wine to enjoy at home! (Nanyo edition)
The second article about “Yamagata wine to enjoy at home” is focused on Nanyo City.
Nanyo City has the most wineries in Yamagata Prefecture and is an area where grapes are cultivated.
It is also a tourist destination with plenty of attractions, such as Akayu Onsen, which boasts a history of over 900 years, the Kumano Taisha shrine, also called the Ise shrine of the Tohoku region, and Akayu Ramen with a spicy miso accent.
◆ Nanyo City
The Shinkansen bullet train running towards Yamagata passes past JR Akayu Station and soon you will be able to see Lake Hakuryu from the car window on the right.
If you look at the vast landscape that spreads out around the lake and the slopes facing South, you can see the vineyards lined up.
The vineyards on these slopes are very well-drained, have plenty of sunshine, different temperatures between day and night, and less rain during maturity to cultivate grapes of great quality.
There are many wineries that have been around for a long time, and many have a homely atmosphere that no major company has.
One of the attractions is that the producers can be seen during the factory tour.
Now that Japanese wine is gaining attention, the day when the name “NANYO” reaches the world, like Burgundy and Bordeaux, may not be so far away.
◆ Ohura Wine
Ohura Wine has since its founding in 1939 used local grapes. It is characterized by a careful wine making process that emphasizes quality over quantity.
They have a good reputation for the deliciousness of the wine and the politeness of the staff, and it seems that many people become fans once they visit.
This proven wine maker has won numerous awards at Japanese wine competitions.
The Wine Shop 312 opened in April of this year as a direct-sales shop a wide range of exclusive products such as wines and juices, as well as jams and raisins using Akayu grapes.
・ Online order site
From sweet dessert wines to heavy-duty types, there is a wide lineup that you can enjoy according to your dinner plans.
There also are products that can be enjoyed by people who are not good with alcohol such as wine using cherries and apples, and straight grape juice.
Detailed information
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Ohura Wine
312 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
◆ Sato Wine
Sato Wine is known for its Kinkei Wine.
It is said that the first generation was named “Kinkei” because the grapes were cultivated in a valley where gold was once collected.
Since this is a family-centered, at-home winery, it seems that they try to make wine carefully without mass production.
This refreshing and tasty wine has many fans.
・ Online order site
There is a wide lineup but make sure to try the Kinkei wine.
The price is reasonable, so why not add some to your everyday meal?
Detailed information
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Sato Wine
1072-2 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
◆ Grape Republic
Grape Republic makes all-natural wines.
The bottles are known for their impressive labels.
In 2017, Mr. Taira we opened a winery in Nanyo City because the family of Mr. Taira, the representative of the Italian restaurant Salone Group, opened a winery here as his family home in Nanyo was running a grape farm.
A wine that does not use oxidative preservatives, sugar, or acid to give it a distinctive juice-like taste and aroma.
・ Online order site
Wine made in amphorae is said to be “more grape-like than the grape itself.”
Why don’t you enjoy the 100% grape wine at home taking advantage of the climate of Yamagata?
Detailed information
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Grape Republic
3945-94 Nitta, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
◆ Sakai Winery
It is the oldest winery in Tohoku and features unfiltered wine.
It is a well-known winery that won 5 stars at the 1st (2018) and 2nd (2019) Japan Winery Awards.
It is a family-run winery with a cozy atmosphere.
・ Online order site
A lineup that you can enjoy during everyday meals or special occasions with wines identified by their fields and varieties’ names, like the reasonable whimsical “Mazekoze Wine” or the “Kohime” wine using Delaware grapes.
Mazekoze Wine is a blend of the starch left when bottling each wine and further racked to make a unique flavored blended wine mixing varieties and vintages!
I’m a little excited.
Detailed information
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Sakai Winery
980 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-43-20430238-43-2043
◆Yellow Magic Winery
This winery opened in 2019 with the concept of “Japanese wine” to resonate with the sensibilities of Asia and Japanese people. The wine making that started in the land of Nanyo with a relationship seems to be fun as the years go by.
・ Online order site
The Yellow Magic Winery has a special Nigori wine that is bottled without filtration.
It is an all-natural wine in which you can enjoy the fresh taste of grapes and their original mixed fruity tastes.
Please check the website for the characteristics of each wine.
The description of how it is made, what kind of dish it matches with and what its aroma is like are indicated to make you excited before trying it and will be very helpful when choosing a wine.
Detailed information
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Yellow Magic Winery
871 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
◆ Sudo Wine (Shikin Orchards)
Sudo wine is famous for its sightseeing orchard Shikin-en.
The family does everything from grape cultivation to fermentation and bottle filling.
Since it is not mass-produced it is almost never sold outside of Yamagata.
A wine made while cherishing the traditional method, make sure to try it if you come to Nanyo.
· How to buy
There are no online sales but you can purchase the wines at a liquor store in Yamagata Prefecture or directly at the farm.
During the harvest from early August to mid-October you can participate in a wine bottling experience in addition to picking grapes.
Only at a winery can you do that!
Detailed information
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Sudo wine
2836 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-43-25780238-43-2578
◆ Summary
How was the Nanyo edition?
From old wineries to new wineries, you’ll want to try something different and unique.
Why not add delicious Yamagata wine to your daily dining table?
If you have a favorite wine, make sure to come visit the vast vineyards and wineries where it made on your next visit to Yamagata.
Please come and visit Nanyo City once things are back to normal!
We look forward to your visit.
Detailed information
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[Feature] Yamagata wine to enjoy at home! (Kaminoyama edition)
Click here for the Kaminoyama City edition!