The highly anticipated wine discovery tour held in Japan from May 18 to 24 was a great success, with 80 participants—mostly from Europe and the United States—and strong support from the Knights of the Vine of Japan, who accompanied the visitors in numbers.

Twelve brotherhoods members of FICB were represented

from France : Le Conseil des Echansons de France, La Coordination des confréries d’Ile de France (Cocorico) et La Confrérie Saint-Bacchus de Guyane
from Switzerland : l’Ordre de la Channe, la Noble Confrérie des Olifants en pays de Neuchâtel
from Slovénia : lrdo Equestris Vini Europae Consulate
from Hungary : Pannonia Wine Sisterhood
from Estonia : Veinimaailm Confraternity
from Italy : Ordine dei Cavalieri del tartufo e dei Vini di Alba
and from the USA : Oregon Wine Brotherhood, Renaud Society, and the Knights of the Vine of America with their numerous chapters : Houston, Washington DC, L.A., Chancellery, Lake Tahoe, Lodi…

The trip gave participants the opportunity to learn about the history of wine in Japan, visit numerous wineries, gain an understanding of the unique aspects of viticulture in Japan, and, of course, taste a wide variety of wines—as well as enjoy Japanese cuisine and culture!

The history of wine in Japan began in the late 19th century. Emissaries were sent to France for training, and the Dai-Nippon Yamanashi Wine Company was founded, which began producing wine from a native white grape variety, Koshu, which had previously been consumed as a table grape. European grape varieties were introduced later, and hybrids such as Muscat Bayley A were developed.

It was not until the late 20th century that viticultural techniques (trellis cultivation, vine cover, etc.) and winemaking techniques were optimized—taking into account the climate and soil conditions—to produce high-quality wines.

The itinerary first took us to the Yamanashi region, the historic birthplace of Japanese winemaking and the leading wine-producing region, where we visited Suntory’s Tomi no Oka Winery,

and Katsanuma Winery of Chateau Mercian.

Then, as part of the extension, in the Nagano region—Japan’s second-largest wine-producing region, with a semi-continental climate—at the Grand Vert Vineyard,

and Kosei vineyard (merlot kingdom)

Mercian Mariko (where we meet again the winemaker Hironori Kobayashi )

and Manns Wines Komoro.

Several wines were tasted in each of these wineries.

The program was punctuated by meals of all kinds, showcasing Japanese cuisine and wines:

• On the first evening, a welcome tasting dinner prepared by Chef Matsukawa, paired with five wines from Château Mercian; a presentation of Japanese wines by sommelier Haruo Kenmotsu, and a presentation of Château Mercian by its executive winemaker, Hironori Kobayashi
  
• The following day at lunch, several wineries in Yamanashi offered tastings of their wines
  
• On the second evening, at Ryotei Oteian, a traditional restaurant offering a wide variety of dishes prepared by Chef Masakazu Horii, paired with wines from “Suntory from Farm”—Koshu, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Suntory is Japan’s leading producer of alcoholic beverages and also owns Château Lagrange (a classified growth in the Médoc).
• Other meals followed, each with its own unique features: a sushi party at a specialty restaurant, and dinner on a traditional boat sailing through Tokyo Bay

Let’s also applaud the public outdoor tasting of nearly 200 wines from all over Japan—and even from China—which reflects the organizers’ spirit of openness.

But the most eagerly awaited moment was undoubtedly the induction ceremony. Thirty-one of the 80 participants were welcomed (inducted) into the Knights of the Vine of Japan during a solemn ceremony.

These moments were accompanied by performances that made them unforgettable: dances, a koto concert, a string quartet, and a performance by Masaji Nomura, a master of Noh theater…

Over the next few days, during the extension, in addition to the vineyards already mentioned, the participants were also given the opportunity to visit a wasabi farm and a sake brewery.

For more pictures and information, follow these links provided by the Knigjhts of the Vine of Japan :

1. The Tour Report
JAPAN WINE DISCOVERY TOUR 2026 Reporto
https://online.fliphtml5.com/anlxq/rksm/

2. Shared Google Photos Album

JAPAN WINE DISCOVERY TOUR 2026 Enthronement Ceremony
https://photos.app.goo.gl/G4SoUgCznkunijv69

JAPAN WINE DISCOVERY TOUR PHOTO FOR ALL
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LjaKBHzCDAN3vTzE9

In conclusion, we would like to praise the organizers for this exceptional trip, which allowed us to discover not only the vineyards and wines but also Japanese cuisine and culture. We know how much work went into making this happen, and we thank everyone who made it possible: President Shoji Kinoshita, Akihiko Sakama, the chief organizer, Takeshi Yokokawa, the operational manager, who was always there for us, and Keiko, Kou, and everyone else who accompanied us throughout these days.

Thanks to all ! ARIGATO どうもありがとうございます

Bonds of friendship have formed between the organizers and the participants; let’s hope they’ll have the chance to meet again soon.
Perhaps at an upcoming event: in Alsace next October, or in Switzerland for the Congress in May 2027?

Nous avons aussi entendu la soif de reconnaissance des viticulteurs passionnés rencontrés tout au long du séjour. Il y a un long chemin de l’excellence à la reconnaissance, qui passe par ce type de séjour-découverte. Nul doute que les participants contribueront à faire connaitre les vins japonais, à l’instar de nos amis Tea et Jaanus Lajal qui ont rapporté de nombreuses bouteilles pour les faire découvrir aux amateurs estoniens !

The tour is over
Festival of wines and smiles
Lot to remember

See also below the summary by Akihiko Sakama of an article published by ​International Wine Connoisseurs

Visit “Domaine Kosei” Winery in Shiojiri
​On May 23, eighty members of the “Federation Internationale des Confreries Bachiques” (FICB)—an international association of wine lovers from around the world—visited the “Domaine Kosei” winery in Kataoka, Shiojiri City. The tour was organized by the FICB’s Japanese branch, the “Order of the Knights of the Vine,” with the aim of raising international awareness of Japanese wine and promoting Japan’s drinking culture abroad. During the visit, members toured the vineyards and tasted the wines to evaluate their quality.
​Kosei Mimura, 68, the president of the winery, guided the group through the estate’s vineyards, which are planted with the red wine grape variety Merlot. He explained several of their specialized techniques, such as training the vine branches higher than is typical in Europe to prevent rainwater from splashing back up from the ground. He also highlighted their use of the vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis system, which increases the sugar content of the fruit and concentrates the flavor. Regarding the vinification process, Mimura noted, “We remove the stems before fermentation to prevent any green, herbaceous flavors from developing.”
​The Grand Maitre (president) of the federation, Marc Lesk, who traveled from France, mentioned that he had tasted 200 different Japanese wines since arriving in Japan. “Japanese wine is truly evolving,” he said. “Their viticultural techniques are innovative and wonderful.” Michael Hogan, a participant from the United States, was equally impressed. “I am deeply moved by their passionate approach to winemaking. I want to buy a lot of it to host home parties and spread the word about Japanese wine,” he said.
​Since arriving in Japan on May 18, the group has visited wineries in Yamanashi Prefecture, among other locations. They are scheduled to visit wineries in Ueda City and Komoro City on May 24.