Cantina Hiro
カンティーナ・ヒロ
Aiming to make Makioka Japan's own Barolo, one Italian variety at a time.
About Cantina Hiro
- Founded
- 2018
- 8 years ago
- Location
- 山梨市
- 山梨県
- Wines listed
- 5
- Sparkling 1, White 1, Rosé 1, Red 2
- Main grapes
- Kyoho, Nebbiolo, Lambrusco
Founded in 2018 in the Makioka district of Yamanashi City — a hillside area in the prefecture's eastern reaches known as 'Tenku no Oka' (the hill in the sky) at 750-1,000m elevation — Cantina Hiro grew out of a family that had farmed grapes for 70 years. Owner Takehiko Hirose named the winery 'Cantina', Italian for a small winery vinifying 100% of its own estate fruit, adding his own surname. Driven by a vision to make Makioka 'the Barolo of Japan', the winery focuses on Italian varieties such as Nebbiolo, Barbera and Trebbiano alongside Japan's own Yama Sauvignon and Yamablan hybrids and heirloom Koshu and Kyoho grapes, following a natural, low-intervention approach with no added sugar or acid. Its flagship ACCA series, an Italian rendering of the winery's 'H', along with the Felicissimo and Partenza lines, reflects the family's belief that grapes account for 80% of a wine and winemaking only 20%.
Who Is This For?
For adventurous drinkers curious how Nebbiolo, Barbera and other Italian varieties translate to Japanese terroir, and for those who enjoy small, family-run, membership-style wineries.
Wines of Cantina Hiro
Location & Nearby
- Address
- 山梨県山梨市牧丘町倉科7143-1View map ↗
- Founded
- 2018
Source: cantina-hiro.jp (checked Sep 2026) / imadeya.co.jp (checked Sep 2026)
The pin with the gold outline marks Cantina Hiro.
Nearby wineries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Cantina Hiro's winemaking philosophy?
- The winery follows the belief that grapes account for 80% of a wine and winemaking only 20%, using no added sugar or acid so the fruit's own character comes through.
- Why does Cantina Hiro focus on Italian grape varieties?
- Few wineries near Yamanashi cultivate Italian varieties, so the Hirose family chose Nebbiolo, Barbera and Trebbiano to challenge convention and pursue their goal of making Makioka 'the Barolo of Japan'.
- Where is Cantina Hiro located?
- The winery sits on a hillside called 'Tenku no Oka' (hill in the sky) at 750-1,000m elevation in the Makioka district of Yamanashi City, in the eastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, with views of Mount Fuji.
- Can visitors tour or taste at Cantina Hiro?
- Yes, tastings of about four wines for roughly ¥1,000 and vineyard visits are available, generally by reservation through the winery's official website.
- What is the ACCA series?
- ACCA is Cantina Hiro's flagship line, its name an Italian rendering of the 'H' in Hiro, built around Nebbiolo and other Italian varieties to express the character of the Makioka terroir.