Let's go to a winery in Japan! ~A different way to enjoy wine~
Let's go to a winery in Japan!
Have you ever visited a winery? There are over 250 wineries in Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
The quality of Japanese wine has been improving year by year, and in recent years it has attracted attention not only in Japan but also around the world.
Along with this, the ``wine-centered tourism industry'' called ``wine tourism'' is flourishing in various parts of Japan, and the number of wine lovers who take winery tours as a hobby is increasing. Why not try visiting a winery once, just to feel like a tourist?
This time, we will tell you about the procedure for visiting a winery, which even beginners can understand.
What can you do on a winery tour? ?
Even if you are suddenly told, ``Let's visit a winery!'', what can you actually do? I think there are many people who are wondering this. First, let's explain what you can do on a winery tour.
Learn about the history of the winery
Each winery has a different story to tell, from its establishment to the present day. If it is a large winery, there will be an exhibition corner inside the facility that explains the history of the winery, or a guide will explain the history on a guided tour, so you can learn more about the winery.
Learn the wine making process
Many winery tours allow you to tour the brewing facilities located within the winery facility. While touring the brewery, you can see and learn how grapes go through the process of turning into wine.
wine tasting
At the winery, you can sample various types of wine. Some wineries have free tasting corners, while others offer tastings for a fee or as an option on a winery tour. Since you can taste and compare several types of wine from the same winery, you can learn about the individuality and characteristics of the winery's taste, and it can also give you hints on finding your favorite wine.
Purchasing souvenirs
Wineries sometimes sell limited quantities of wine and goods that can only be purchased at the winery's shop. In addition to wine, they may also sell processed products made from the winery's grapes, grape juice, and local specialty souvenirs, so you can buy souvenirs for friends and family.
Eating at a restaurant or cafe
If it is a large winery, there may be restaurants or cafes within or around the facility. At restaurants and cafes, you can enjoy a meal with the winery's wines, or you can enjoy wines that are not offered in the free tasting for a fee.
How to choose a winery to visit
If you are new to winery tours, we recommend that you first visit major wineries that offer winery tours or whose wineries themselves are tourist destinations.
At small wineries, the brewer or owner may personally talk to you and show you around the facility, which is what makes the tour so special.
However, many small wineries do not normally accept tourists, so if you wish to tour, you will need to call in advance to confirm whether it is possible to visit. Also, many wineries do not have set plans for tours as they do not expect to receive many tourists, so it feels like they are more for experts.
On the other hand, many of the major wineries themselves are tourist destinations, with shops and restaurants attached to the winery for tourists to enjoy, and specialized staff who can help with tours. Even first-time visitors can feel free to visit, as you can walk in on the day without making a reservation, and there are plenty of free tastings and souvenir shops.
decide where to go
I want to visit a winery! If you think so, you need to do some research first. First, let's make a list of wineries to visit.
① Decide from wine
If you have a wine that you have tried or a wine that you like, check out the winery that makes that wine. If it's a wine you like or know, you can feel more familiar with it when you visit a winery.
② Decide based on location
Most wineries in Japan are located in the suburbs, where there are fields where grapes can be grown, rather than in the center. Therefore, we recommend visiting a nearby winery as part of your domestic trip. When I go on a trip outside the prefecture, I search in advance to see if there are any wineries nearby, and if I can find a place that I can access, I try to include it as a destination for sightseeing as well.
Wine tourism is also popular in Yamanashi and Nagano, and you can visit several wineries at once in the popular areas where many wineries gather.
③Choose from famous wineries
Major, famous wineries that have a large distribution volume or are well known often actively offer tours and services for tourists. If this is your first time, we recommend visiting famous wineries whose winery facilities have become tourist attractions.
Winery tour procedure
① Check the winery website
Once you've found a winery you're interested in, check to see if you can actually visit the winery. First, check the winery's official website. Check to see if they offer winery tours.
② Check the access method
Wineries are often located on land with fields where grapes can be grown, in other words, generally in areas away from the city center, although there are exceptions.
Make sure you can realistically visit the winery by checking how long it takes to get there, whether it's accessible by public transportation, and whether you need a car.
If you are heading there by private car, the driver will not be allowed to sample the alcohol, so it is important to decide in advance who will drive to avoid any fights. Please be considerate, such as asking someone who does not drink alcohol but are interested in winery sightseeing, or splitting the amount of souvenir wine between members other than the driver, since they cannot drink on the day.
I really want to drink it all! If so, choose a winery that is accessible by public transportation or arrange a rental car with a driver. In Yamanashi Prefecture, where wine tourism is popular, there is a convenient transportation service called ``Wine Taxi,'' so you can visit multiple wineries in one day by taxi.
③ Check tour conditions and time slots
Some wineries offer winery tours at set times, others do not set a set time and offer tours whenever there is a person who wishes to do so, or they offer private tours only by reservation. There are also wineries.
It's great that you arrived at the winery, but it's a shame if you find out that the next winery tour is in 3 hours, or that you can't participate because you didn't make a reservation in advance, so be sure to check the start time of the tour in advance. If you need a reservation, please make it in advance.
Winery tours are often free, but some wineries charge a fee for wine tasting, and some wineries offer multiple tours with different prices and content. It's best to check in advance what kind of fee structure the winery offers.
④Actually visit the winery
Arrive at the winery on time for your tour.
If it's a major winery, you'll be able to tour the winery's facilities before and after the tour, and enjoy tastings and shopping at the winery's shop, so it's a good idea to arrive with plenty of time.
Now, enjoy the winery tour to your heart's content! !
summary
Japan has many attractive wineries. If you love wine and would like to learn more about the world of wine, be sure to visit a Japanese winery.
