Domaine de la Akeno Venus
ドメーヌ・ド・ラ・アケノ・ヴェニュス
Japan's sunniest wine district — Akeno's 2,600+ annual sunshine hours produce Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable depth and structure, crafted by a second-career winemaker who spent seven years farming before his first bottling.
Domaine de la Akeno Venus is a small, artisan winery located in Shimokamitori, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 2018 by Shuzo Yoshida, this boutique domaine represents one of the most compelling second-career winemaking stories in Japanese wine. Yoshida, formerly a municipal ward employee in Tokyo, began cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon in Akeno as early as 2011, dedicating years to mastering viticulture before formally obtaining his winemaking license. He studied at the Yamanashi Prefectural Agricultural and Forestry University vocational training division and honed his skills through hands-on experience at established local wineries. The Akeno district sits on the western foothills of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Southern Alps, and it is renowned for recording over 2,600 hours of annual sunshine — among the highest in Japan. This extraordinary solar radiation, combined with low rainfall, excellent soil drainage on well-inclined slopes, cool summers, and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, creates near-ideal conditions for producing structured, complex red wines from Bordeaux varietals. The high altitude and mountain winds further reduce disease pressure, allowing Yoshida to farm with reduced pesticide use. The winery's flagship wine, Akeno Venus Cabernet Sauvignon, is crafted entirely from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon harvested from the home vineyard in Akeno. After a slow, gentle fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit purity, the wine is aged for approximately seven months in old French oak barrels, imparting subtle complexity without overwhelming the elegant fruit. The resulting wine displays a deep garnet color, layered aromas of ripe dark berries, gentle spice, and a hint of oak, with balanced tannins and refreshing acidity that make it versatile at the table — equally at home alongside steak, roast beef, sukiyaki, or grilled chicken. Shuzo Yoshida runs the domaine together with his son, blending the wisdom of a career reinvented and the energy of the next generation. Their shared commitment to quality and terroir expression has earned Domaine de la Akeno Venus recognition in the Japan Winery Award (JWA) 2025, receiving a Connoisseurs Award — a testament to the quality emerging from this sun-drenched corner of Yamanashi.
Cuvées
No cuvées registered yet.
Who Is This For?
For lovers of structured, terroir-driven Japanese red wines who want to discover an authentic small-estate story — ideal for those who enjoy Bordeaux varietals but are curious how Yamanashi's unique sunshine and altitude translate that tradition into something distinctly Japanese.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape varieties does Domaine de la Akeno Venus use?
- The winery focuses primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon grown in their estate vineyard in Akeno, Hokuto City. The flagship wine, Akeno Venus Cabernet Sauvignon, is made from 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon.
- What makes the Akeno terroir special for red wine?
- Akeno records over 2,600 hours of sunshine annually — among Japan's highest — combined with low rainfall, excellent soil drainage on hillside slopes, cool nights with large diurnal temperature variation, and mountain winds. These conditions produce Cabernet Sauvignon with ripe fruit, good structure, and natural acidity.
- How is Akeno Venus Cabernet Sauvignon made?
- Grapes are harvested from the estate vineyard with reduced pesticide farming. After a slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve fruit aromatics, the wine is aged for approximately seven months in old French oak barrels, adding complexity without heavy oak influence.
- Who is the winemaker behind this domaine?
- Shuzo Yoshida is the founder and winemaker. He was formerly a municipal worker in Tokyo who reinvented his career after retirement, studying viticulture and enology at Yamanashi Prefectural Agricultural and Forestry University and training at local wineries. He began growing grapes in Akeno in 2011 and obtained his winemaking license in 2018. He now runs the winery together with his son.
- Has Domaine de la Akeno Venus received any awards?
- Yes. The winery received a Connoisseurs Award at the Japan Winery Award (JWA) 2025, a prestigious national recognition organized by the Japan Winery Awards Association. This award highlights emerging and quality-focused wineries across Japan.