Hakodate Winery
はこだてわいん
Hokkaido pioneer since 1973, famed for frozen-grape 'shibare' dessert wines
Hakodate Wine Co., Ltd. is one of Hokkaido's most established wineries, founded in 1973 in Nanae-cho, a town near Hakodate at the foot of Mt. Komagatake. The company's winemaking roots trace back to the 1930s, when Ohara Shoten (maker of the KoUP Gaarana soft drink) began fermenting wild mountain grapes near Mt. Komagatake; the fruit-wine division was later spun off as Komagatake Sake Brewery in 1973, and renamed Hakodate Wine Co., Ltd. in 1984. Now part of the Oenon Holdings group, Hakodate Wine produces a wide range of wines from cold-hardy varieties such as Kerner, Campbell Early, Niagara, Zweigelt, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, sourced from contracted growers in Yoichi and Niki as well as its own vineyards in Nanae. The winery is best known for its 'shibare-zukuri' technique, in which harvested grapes are naturally frozen in Hokkaido's cold air and pressed while frozen to concentrate sugars into rich dessert wines, and for a decades-long commitment to additive-free (no added sulfites) winemaking.
www.hakodatewine.co.jp ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who want an approachable, everyday taste of Hokkaido terroir — from crisp Kerner whites and juicy Campbell Early reds to the region's signature frozen-grape shibare dessert wines — and for anyone curious about Japan's long-running tradition of additive-free winemaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was Hakodate Wine founded?
- Hakodate Wine's roots trace back to the 1930s, when Ohara Shoten began fermenting wild mountain grapes near Mt. Komagatake. It was formally established as Komagatake Sake Brewery in 1973, then renamed Hakodate Wine Co., Ltd. in 1984.
- Where is Hakodate Wine located?
- The winery and its retail shop, Budou-kan, are located in Nanae-cho, a town in southern Hokkaido near Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, about a 30-40 minute drive from central Hakodate.
- What is 'shibare-zukuri'?
- Shibare-zukuri is Hakodate Wine's signature technique of leaving harvested grapes to freeze naturally in Hokkaido's cold winter air, then pressing them while still frozen. This concentrates the sugars and produces rich, aromatic dessert wines.
- What grape varieties does Hakodate Wine use?
- Hakodate Wine works mainly with cold-hardy varieties including Kerner, Campbell Early, Niagara, Zweigelt, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, sourced from contracted growers in Yoichi and Niki as well as its own vineyards in Nanae.
- Is Hakodate Wine part of a larger company?
- Yes. Hakodate Wine is a subsidiary of Oenon Holdings, a Hokkaido-rooted beverage group whose core business, Godo Shusai, is well known for shochu production.