The regions of Japan
Choose a region to read its guide, then move closer through its named subregions.
- 01HokkaidoNo producers listed yetHokkaido is Japan's cold-climate wine region. Its cool growing season supports high-acid grapes, while winter brings a different kind of work: vines may be covered with snow in heavy-snow districts or buried in soil in the colder, drier conditions of Tokachi.
- 02NaganoNo producers listed yetMountain vineyards, many above 500 metres, give Nagano a cool setting with large day-night temperature shifts. Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are widely planted alongside Concord and Niagara. Its four wine valleys, Kikyogahara, Chikumagawa, Japan Alps and Tenryugawa, add further differences in altitude, climate and vineyard conditions.
- 03NiigataNo producers listed yetNiigata brings together sandy coastal vineyards, clay-soiled Tainai and snowy Minamiuonuma. Look for mineral-rich Albariño with seafood, Zweigeltrebe with balanced acidity, and concentrated reds from European varieties grown where summer days and nights differ sharply.
- 04Osaka3 producersOsaka's main vineyards are in Kawachi, on sunny slopes below the Kongo Mountains that lead toward the Osaka Plain. Delaware and other table-grape varieties make up much of the local wine, while GI Osaka also permits grapes such as Koshu, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Merlot.
- 05Other producers9 producersThese producers are listed here with no more specific region shown.
- 06Yamagata2 producersYamagata lies in northern Honshu, where the Mogami River crosses mountain basins on its way from Okitama to the Sea of Japan. Cool harvests and large shifts between day and night help preserve acidity, a thread that runs through its whites and reds.
- 07YamanashiNo producers listed yetYamanashi's vineyards spread through tributary basins of the Fuji River, where hot days meet much cooler mornings and evenings. Koshu is its central grape, made as crisp, citrus-scented whites as well as richer barrel-aged and skin-contact wines. Fruity, softly tannic Muscat Bailey A reds are another local style.