ProducerHokkaido
Hokkaido Wine
北海道ワイン
Japan's largest 100%-domestic-grape winery, pioneering unheated winemaking since 1974
Hokkaido's largest winery producing wines from locally grown Kerner, Müller-Thurgau, and Zweigeltrebe, pioneering cool-climate winemaking on Japan's northernmost island.
www.hokkaidowine.com ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who want to explore Hokkaido's distinct cool-climate terroir — crisp Kerner and Müller-Thurgau whites alongside elegant Zweigeltrebe reds — made entirely from Japanese-grown grapes without imported must.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was Hokkaido Wine Co., Ltd. founded, and by whom?
- It was founded in January 1974 by Akiyoshi Shimamura, who reclaimed abandoned farmland in Urausu, Hokkaido to grow European wine grape varieties and revitalize local agriculture.
- What makes Hokkaido Wine's winemaking philosophy distinctive?
- The winery has used only Hokkaido- and Japan-grown grapes for 50 years, never importing bulk wine or grape must, and ferments without heat treatment to preserve the natural character of each grape variety.
- Where does Hokkaido Wine source its grapes?
- Grapes come primarily from its own Tsurunuma Winery in Urausu, one of Japan's largest single vineyards at roughly 447 hectares, supplemented by contracts with around 400 farming households across 32 municipalities in Hokkaido.
- What are Hokkaido Wine's signature grape varieties?
- Kerner and Müller-Thurgau lead its white wine lineup, while Zweigeltrebe anchors the reds; the winery also bottles single-vineyard labels such as the Tazaki Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.
- Has Hokkaido Wine won international recognition?
- Yes. Its Otaru Gewürztraminer 2024 won gold and the 'Best Wine from Japan' trophy at GWSAA 2025, and its Tazaki Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022 became the first Japanese Sauvignon Blanc to win a Grand Gold at the Vinalies Internationales 2025.