ProducerNagano
Château Mercian Mariko Winery
シャトー・メルシャン 椀子ワイナリー
Asia's most decorated wine-tourism destination — named to the World's Best Vineyards list five years running (2020-2024), including Asia's top ranking in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Nagano's showcase winery in Ueda, home to the Mariko vineyard producing internationally award-winning Syrah, Merlot, and Chardonnay from the cool Ueda terroir.
www.chateaumercian.com/winery/mariko/ ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who want to see Japan's cool-climate winemaking firsthand — from vineyard tours and cellar visits to tasting award-winning Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah alongside local bites.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Château Mercian Mariko Winery located?
- On the Jinba plateau in the Maruko district of Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture — about 25 minutes by car from Ueda Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen/Shinano Railway, or a 12-minute bus ride from Oya Station.
- When was it established?
- The Mariko Vineyard was planted in 2003 on land once considered unsuitable for viticulture. The winery building itself opened in September 2019 as Ueda City's first winery.
- What makes the winery notable internationally?
- It has been named to the World's Best Vineyards list every year from 2020 to 2024 — including Asia's top-ranked vineyard in 2021, 2022, and 2023 — the only Japanese winery selected five years running.
- Can visitors tour the winery and taste the wines?
- Yes. Guided tours are reservation-based, though same-day walk-ins may join if space allows. The tasting room offers around ten wines by the glass, including Mariko-exclusive bottlings, alongside daily snacks made with local ingredients.
- What grape varieties are grown at Mariko Vineyard?
- Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah are the flagship varieties, grown at high altitude with wide diurnal temperature swings that produce elegant, internationally awarded wines such as the icon cuvée Omnis.