Have you ever experienced Japanese wine? Let's find your favorite one!
A Wine cave in Yamanashi
Hope you all had a good holiday.
I just came back from a Japanese wine cave in Katsunuma, Yamanashi - there are 180 kinds of certified local wine in the cave. Katsunuma is well-known for its grapes. 25% of Japanese grapes were grown there. And it is so close to the central Tokyo - just 90 mins by express trains.
If you are a fan of wine or even just interested in wine, you will definitely love this place!
For about 10 USD, you can get a cup for tasting and enjoy wine
tasting up to 180 kinds - Koshu, Kaiji, chardonnay, Delaware, Muscat, Pione, Rosalie Bianco!
It was amazing how various kind of wine can be made in one area of Japan!
After trying so many tastes, you may want to buy several bottles at least eventually... you will return home with lots of heavy bottles, but you will be happy on your way!
In addition, there was hot spring in the area. After wine-tasting, the hot spring next to the cave made me sleep extremely well on my way back home.
http://www.bento.com/winecave.html (English explanation)
http://budounooka.com/ (Japanese original website)
Variety of Japanese wine
Japan has not known for wine production, but Japanese wine is growing now. Amazingly, there are over 200 wineries here in Japan!
Japanese wine is known for the sensitive and soft tastes and it makes good match with seafood.
It was only 150 years ago that wines were started to be made. But it was 1300 years ago that grapes were started to be grown in Katsunuma, and grapes can be naturally grown in Japan.
The first Japanese pioneers in wine learned the production in France, and has established the production here. It did not become popular actually until 30-40 years ago.
Since then, the varieties and popularity of Japanese wines has been rapidly growing while Japanese sake and beer are getting less popular.
Try Japanese wine and find your favorite!
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Former Deep Japan Writer