About Hirosaki Barbera
- Style
- Red
- Grape Varieties
- Barbera
- Price Range
- ¥5,000-6,000
Hirosaki Barbera is a rare, single-varietal Barbera made by Fattoria da Sasino, the boutique winery run by chef-owner Michiaki Sasamori of the Italian restaurant Osteria Enoteca da Sasino in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. The estate began planting Barbera among its Nebbiolo, Malvasia, Chardonnay and Merlot vines in the mid-2000s on roughly 1.4-1.5 hectares at the foot of Mount Iwaki, but only secured a large enough harvest to bottle Barbera on its own starting with the 2021 vintage. Made under Sasamori's 'make what you can make yourself' philosophy alongside his own cheese and cured meats, it sits within a very limited annual production of around 8,000 bottles across all cuvees, making it one of the rarest Japanese-grown Barbera wines on the market.
One of the very few single-varietal Barbera wines made in Japan — proof that this Piedmontese grape can find a genuine second home in Aomori's cool volcanic terroir.
New to wine?
A bright, food-friendly red with the juicy acidity Barbera is known for — an approachable way to try a genuinely rare style: Japanese-grown Barbera.
Food Pairings
A natural match for tomato-based pasta, grilled or braised meats, and aged hard cheeses in the classic Piedmontese style. Its bright acidity also works well with Japanese dishes built on soy and miso, such as yakitori with tare sauce or simmered pork (buta no kakuni).
When to drink it
Great for a casual dinner with tomato-based or grilled dishes, or as a conversation piece when introducing guests to the emerging world of cool-climate Japanese wine.
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Barbera, hand-harvested from Fattoria da Sasino's own vineyard at the foot of Mount Iwaki in Hirosaki, Aomori. 2021 marked the first vintage for which the estate's young Barbera vines (planted from the mid-2000s) yielded enough fruit to be bottled as a single-varietal wine, rather than blended into the estate's Hirosaki Rosso. Production volumes are very small and vary by vintage.
About the producer
Fattoria da SasinoRare Japanese Nebbiolo from a chef-winemaker in Aomori弘前市, 青森県 · Founded 2010Visit the producer page →More wines from Fattoria da Sasino
Frequently Asked Questions
- What grape is Hirosaki Barbera made from?
- It is a 100% single-varietal wine made from Barbera, an Italian red grape traditionally associated with Piedmont, grown at Fattoria da Sasino's own vineyard in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture.
- Is Japanese-grown Barbera unusual?
- Yes — Barbera is rarely planted in Japan. Fattoria da Sasino only secured a harvest large enough to bottle it as a stand-alone single-varietal wine starting with the 2021 vintage.
- What food pairs well with Hirosaki Barbera?
- Its bright acidity suits tomato-based pasta, grilled or braised meats, and aged cheeses, and it also pairs well with soy- or miso-based Japanese dishes like yakitori or simmered pork.
- Is Hirosaki Barbera easy to find?
- No — production is extremely limited, part of the winery's total output of roughly 8,000 bottles a year across all cuvées, so vintages tend to sell out and availability varies by year.
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