{"id":9651,"date":"2026-06-19T00:51:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winebrotherhoods.org\/?p=9651"},"modified":"2026-06-19T00:52:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:52:28","slug":"wine-discovery-tour-in-japan-a-memorable-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winebrotherhoods.org\/en\/2026\/06\/19\/wine-discovery-tour-in-japan-a-memorable-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Wine Discovery Tour in Japan : a memorable experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The highly anticipated wine discovery tour held in Japan from May 18 to 24 was a great success, with 80 participants\u2014mostly from Europe and the United States\u2014and strong support from the Knights of the Vine of Japan, who accompanied the visitors in numbers.<\/p>\n\n

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Twelve brotherhoods members of FICB were represented<\/p>\n\n

from France : Le Conseil des Echansons de France, La Coordination des confr\u00e9ries d\u2019Ile de France (Cocorico) et La Confr\u00e9rie Saint-Bacchus de Guyanefrom Switzerland : l\u2019Ordre de la Channe, la Noble Confr\u00e9rie des Olifants en pays de Neuch\u00e2tel from Slov\u00e9nia : lrdo Equestris Vini Europae Consulatefrom Hungary : Pannonia Wine Sisterhoodfrom Estonia : Veinimaailm Confraternityfrom Italy : Ordine dei Cavalieri del tartufo e dei Vini di Albaand 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\u2026<\/p>\n\n

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\u2014as well as enjoy Japanese cuisine and culture!<\/p>\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n

It was not until the late 20th century that viticultural techniques (trellis cultivation, vine cover, etc.) and winemaking techniques were optimized\u2014taking into account the climate and soil conditions\u2014to produce high-quality wines.<\/p>\n\n

The itinerary first took us to the Yamanashi<\/strong> region, the historic birthplace of Japanese winemaking and the leading wine-producing region, where we visited Suntory\u2019s Tomi no Oka Winery,<\/p>\n\n

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Suntory, Tomi no Oka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

and Katsanuma Winery of Chateau Mercian.<\/p>\n\n

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Katsanuma Winery, Chateau Mercian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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Then, as part of the extension, in the Nagano<\/strong> region\u2014Japan\u2019s second-largest wine-producing region, with a semi-continental climate\u2014at the Grand Vert Vineyard,<\/p>\n\n

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and Kosei vineyard (merlot kingdom)<\/p>\n\n

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Mercian Mariko (where we meet again the winemaker Hironori Kobayashi )<\/p>\n\n

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Hironori Kobayashi in his vineyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

and Manns Wines Komoro. <\/p>\n\n

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Several wines were tasted in each of these wineries.<\/p>\n\n

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The program was punctuated by meals of all kinds, showcasing Japanese cuisine and wines: <\/p>\n\n