Wines of the World Series: Spotlight on Japan 🇯🇵
Ahead of next week’s masterclass on Japanese wine (Tuesday, 28 April 2026), I’d like to share a brief overview of this emerging player on the international wine scene.
The session is now sold out, so thank you all for your support. If you weren’t able to join this time, I hope this gives you a reason to explore some of Japan’s fascinating wines!
📍 Location
Japan spans from 26°N to 46°N, covering climates from subtropical to subarctic
Around 17,630 hectares of vineyards are planted (OIV, 2024), including both table and wine grapes
Today, more than 700 producers make wine across Japan, in all but one prefecture
🌱 Growing environment
Soils are largely volcanic and naturally fertile
In Yamanashi, vineyards are often located in rain shadow areas at around 500 m altitude or higher
In Nagano, sites typically reach 700 m altitude due to proximity to the Japanese Alps
Hokkaidō has a significantly cooler climate, with lower humidity and fewer typhoons
Pergola training is widely used to improve airflow and reduce disease pressure in humid conditions
🍇 Grape varieties
Kōshū (white) and Muscat Bailey A (black) are the most widely planted indigenous varieties
Among international grapes, Merlot and Chardonnay are the most important
The OIV currently recognises three Japanese varieties: Kōshū, Muscat Bailey A, and Yamasachi
📜 GI system
Japan has six prefecture-level geographical indications (GIs), including two tiers within Nagano Prefecture
Yamanashi, Nagano, and Hokkaidō together account for over 73% of total plantings
All GIs permit a broad range of grape varieties
🍷 Wine styles
Styles are highly diverse, ranging from conventional still wines to orange wines, sweet (and fortified) styles, and even “nouveau” releases
One of the most sought-after wines is Domaine Takahiko’s Nana-Tsu-Mori Pinot Noir from Hokkaidō, which gained international attention after appearing on Noma’s wine list in 2020
Sources
The Oxford Companion to Wine (5th Edition)
Japanese Wine: History, Region, Wineries by Nick Rowan (Instagram) – including maps above