What does '10R' mean?

'10R' is pronounced 'Toar' in Japanese, a wordplay on 'とある' (toaru = 'a certain'), reflecting the winery's humble, unpretentious philosophy that it is simply 'a certain winery' where various people make wine together. The name also captures the collaborative spirit of the KWtN program.

What is the KWtN program?

KWtN stands for 'Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi' (上幌ワインと仲間たち — 'Kamihoro Wine and Friends'). It is 10R's contract winemaking program, where Bruce Gutlove vinifies grapes from outstanding Hokkaido partner growers — including Kimura Farm in Yoichi, Takahashi Farm in Sunagawa, and others — each bottled under the KWtN label with the grower's name.

Why is 10R Winery significant for Japanese wine?

10R is Hokkaido's only custom crush winery, enabling small-scale growers to produce wine without building their own facility — a model that has seeded Hokkaido's natural wine scene. The estate Kamihoro 'Kaze' Pinot Noir was called 'best red wine in the world' by Noma's head sommelier, and three 10R wines were featured on Noma's Kyoto pop-up wine list.

ProducerKurisawa

10R Winery

10Rワイナリー

The Hokkaido winery that made Noma's sommelier call a Japanese Pinot Noir 'the best red wine in the world'

About 10R Winery

Founded: 2012; 14 years ago
Location: 岩見沢市; 北海道
Wines listed: 11; White 5, Rosé 2, Red 3, Sweet 1
Main grapes: Pinot Noir, Kerner, Pinot Gris

10R Winery (pronounced 'Toar,' meaning 'a certain' or 'some' in Japanese) is Hokkaido's only custom crush winery and winemaker incubator, founded in 2012 by American-born winemaker Bruce Gutlove and his wife Ryoko in Kurisawa-cho, Iwamizawa City. Gutlove holds a BS from Cornell and an MS in Enology from UC Davis; after two decades as head winemaker at Coco Farm & Winery in Tochigi, he moved to Hokkaido to pursue a new vision of what Japanese Pinot Noir could become. The winery operates three wine lines: the Kamihoro Estate series (from 10R's own ~1 ha Kurisawa vineyard), KWtN — 'Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi' (wines made from contracted partner growers' vineyards across Hokkaido), and the Coco & 10R / こことある collaboration series released under Coco Farm & Winery's label.

Official website: www.10rwinery.jp ↗

Who Is This For?

For the Pinot Noir obsessive ready to discover that Hokkaido's cool maritime climate and volcanic soils can rival Burgundy — and in some vintages, surpass it

Wines of 10R Winery

White5

Rosé2

Red3

Sweet1

KWtN Fujisawa Farm Yoichi Kerner Mateba KanroKerner

Location & Nearby

Address: 北海道岩見沢市栗沢町上幌1123番地10View map ↗
Founded: 2012

Source: 10rwinery.jp (checked Sep 2026) / ja.wikipedia.org (checked Sep 2026)

The pin with the gold outline marks 10R Winery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does '10R' mean?: '10R' is pronounced 'Toar' in Japanese, a wordplay on 'とある' (toaru = 'a certain'), reflecting the winery's humble, unpretentious philosophy that it is simply 'a certain winery' where various people make wine together. The name also captures the collaborative spirit of the KWtN program.
What is the KWtN program?: KWtN stands for 'Kamihoro Wine to Nakama-tachi' (上幌ワインと仲間たち — 'Kamihoro Wine and Friends'). It is 10R's contract winemaking program, where Bruce Gutlove vinifies grapes from outstanding Hokkaido partner growers — including Kimura Farm in Yoichi, Takahashi Farm in Sunagawa, and others — each bottled under the KWtN label with the grower's name.
Why is 10R Winery significant for Japanese wine?: 10R is Hokkaido's only custom crush winery, enabling small-scale growers to produce wine without building their own facility — a model that has seeded Hokkaido's natural wine scene. The estate Kamihoro 'Kaze' Pinot Noir was called 'best red wine in the world' by Noma's head sommelier, and three 10R wines were featured on Noma's Kyoto pop-up wine list.