Wines brewed in Japan's Climate and Culture
Authentic winery with an integrated
production system from raw material to
finished product, and highly esteemed around the world
The idea that "wine tastes better made from grapes grown in the local climate" is what takes Japanese wine to a world-class level. Our goal is to produce Japan's best wine ingredients. This challenge for the Shirayuri Winery, which has been studying and working together with locals to create unique wines for the world to enjoy, will continue into the future.
Katsunuma Town, Koshu City, one of Japan's representative wine-growing regions
Yamanashi Prefecture boasts Japan's tallest mountain, Mt.Fuji. Katsunuma Town, Koshu City, located in the southeastern part of the Kofu Basin, is known for its long hours of sunshine, well-drained fan-shaped terrain, and marked temperature differences between day and night, making it a good grape-growing region. Yamanashi Prefecture ranks first in Japan in its number of wineries, and Koshu City has the largest single concentration of wineries, making it one of the leading wine-producing regions in Japan.
Shirayuri Winery is a conspicuous white building along a peaceful prefectural road dotted with vineyards. The beautiful contrast between the green foliage of the grape trellises and the white of the exterior walls gives it a sophisticated appearance, reminiscent of the countryside in the south of France.
Shirayuri Winery was founded in 1938 with 32 grape growers forming the Shirayuri Budoshu Kyodo Brewery Association (白百合葡萄酒共同醸造組合). Under the family's management that has been passed down from generation to generation, the company has been engaged in integrated winemaking from grape cultivation to vinification, while carefully maintaining its own managed vineyards and its ties with reliable local contract farmers.
Locally grown grapes are the first requirement for winemaking.
“Winemaking is simple. The only ingredient is pressed grape juice. Unlike beer or whiskey, we do not add water. That is why the quality of the grapes is so important," says Mr. Takao Uchida, Representative Director of the winery. To improve his winemaking skills, he went to France to study at a time when Japanese people had not yet visited the country. He believed that "wine is a product of the local character and culture," and by mastering grape cultivation suited to the climate, he succeeded in producing wines that are highly esteemed around the world.
Shirayuri Winery's wine brand "L'ORIENT" means "The Orient" in French. It was so named as the aim is to produce wine of the same high standard as those of Europe.
Shirayuri Winery's goal regarding grape cultivation is to produce Japan's best wine ingredients. To achieve this goal, the winery owns approximately 3 hectares of its own vineyards around the winery building, where it grows Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, which are suited to the climate, as well as other European varieties. Through years of research on climate and soil, the winery has developed the best cultivation methods to meet the conditions that change from year to year.
“In Katsunuma, in the afternoon, the wind blows down from the mountains, across the river, and under the grape trellises. This allows us to grow humidity- and disease-sensitive varieties, such as Chardonnay grapes, with excellent taste," says Mr. Keiya Uchida, Managing Director of the winery.
After graduating from university in Tokyo, he also studied in France, as did his father, Takao, the current president, and obtained a French national qualification as a senior technician licensed as a manager of grape cultivation and winemaking. He was studying at graduate school in France but returned to Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently engaged in all aspects of cultivation, winemaking, and sales operations at Shirayuri Winery, and is vigorously engaged in winemaking for the next generation, aiming to express artistic thought and sense through the incorporation of modern science.
L'ORIENT wines have won numerous awards at world wine competitions such as the "DWWA" and the "International Wine Challenge," and are highly regarded both domestically and internationally. In May 2023, "L'ORIENT Koshu Vigne de Nakagawa 2021" was served during the Working Lunch of the G7 Hiroshima Summit. This wine was named after Mr. Nakagawa, the farmer who cultivated the grapes used to make the wine.
“It takes 30 years from planting to harvest the delicious grapes. Shirayuri Winery values its relationship with the farmers who have been farming the vineyards for generations, and we are working together to research and cultivate quality grapes with the common goal of 'making world-class wine from this land'". (Mr. Keiya Uchida)
“In France, there are Alsace wines in Alsace and Bordeaux wines in Bordeaux, each with its own character. French people often compare these wines to the characteristics of the Alsatians and Bordelaises who live there. In the same way, I think that Japanese wines also have Japanese characteristics, such as a gentle "Yamato Nadeshiko" (the epitome of pure, feminine beauty)". (Mr. Keiya Uchida)
I’d like people to feel the delicate taste of Japanese wines.
The Japanese wine industry began in Yamanashi during the early Meiji period (1868-1912). At that time, wineries utilized the same brewing techniques, filtration equipment, and yeast that were used for Japanese sake.
“Because our winemaking is based on the profound fermentation techniques of traditional sake brewing, we are often told by foreigners that 'Japanese wines have a ‘ginjo’ aroma like that of sake'. We hope that more people can pick up on the delicate nature of Japanese wines.” (Mr. Keiya Uchida)
Washoku (Japanese cuisine) was registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. Sake and Japanese wines are integral parts of Japan's food culture, which is spreading throughout the world. Koshu wines are a popular choice that goes well with the traditional Dashi (fish broth) culture, while wines made from Muscat Bailey A go well with sweet sauces made from soy sauce, sugar, Mirin, and other seasonings.
“In restaurants in Burgundy, Burgundy wines are at the top of the list, but when you open a menu in a restaurant in Japan, Burgundy wines are still at the top of the list. We’d like to see Japanese wine and sake at the top of the menu in Japanese restaurants. We also want our winery's wines to be at the top of the wine lists of Japanese restaurants around the world. That is our main goal," says Mr. Keiya Uchida.
Shirayuri Winery is also engaged in the production of distilled spirits using grape pomace, motivated by the desire to use all the grapes that the farmers and staff have worked so hard to produce. This winery loves the land of Katsunuma, and instead of wasting and discarding the barrels used for wines, they shave and rechar them to be used as grappa barrels. The winery is dedicated to its wines and continues to strive for even higher levels of excellence. This genuine dedication is what makes the wines loved by the local people and recognized around the world.
