What makes Hinoki Merlot different from a typical Merlot?

Instead of resting in oak, the wine is barrel-aged in a small hand-made hinoki (Japanese cypress) barrel from Ina City, with the interior lacquer-coated to soften the wood's aroma — giving it a fresher, almost sake-like barrel character rather than classic vanilla-and-spice oak notes.

Is Hinoki Merlot just a gimmick wine?

No — the winery explicitly describes it as 'not a gimmick wine' (キワモノワインではない). The hinoki barrel's aromatic contribution was deliberately dialed back and refined between the first 2017 batch and the 2018 vintage, showing an intent to make a genuinely drinkable style rather than a novelty.

Where can I buy Hinoki Merlot?

It is a small-batch release sold mainly through Ina Wine Workshop's own shop in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, with in-store tastings offered in season rather than wide retail distribution.

CuvéeTenryu River Wine ValleyRed

Hinoki Merlot

ヒノキメルロー

Ina Wine Workshop

About Hinoki Merlot

Style: Red
Grape Varieties: Merlot
Price Range: ¥2,860; 720ml, tax included, as of 2021 release

Hinoki Merlot is a rare barrel-aged red from Ina Wine Workshop that carries the winery's 'grapes of Ina, wood of Ina, cellar of Ina' philosophy to its most literal extreme: instead of oak, the Merlot rests in a small hand-made barrel crafted from hinoki (Japanese cypress) grown in Ina City, Nagano. First produced in 2017, the wine was revisited for a second, refined batch — the 2018 vintage the winery describes in its own tasting notes — after adjusting how much wood character the barrel contributed. The interior of the hinoki barrel is coated with repeated layers of lacquer specifically to soften the wood's assertive cypress aroma, so the result reads as a genuine wine style rather than a novelty; the winery is explicit that it is 'not a gimmick wine.' The barrel character recalls the toasty, mellow wood notes of aged sake more than a typical oak-aged Merlot. It is sold in small volumes mainly through the winery's own shop in Ina City, with tastings offered in season.

Sommelier's Note

Ina Wine Workshop's boldest statement of terroir — swapping oak for hinoki turns 'grapes of Ina, wood of Ina, cellar of Ina' from a slogan into something you can actually taste.

New to wine?

A genuinely unusual bottle — if you've only had oak-aged Merlot, this hinoki-barrel version shows how much the wood itself can change a wine's character.

Food Pairings

Built specifically to match grilled lamb — Nagano-style jingisukan eaten with yakiniku sauce or ponzu, a specialty of the southern Nagano region — where the hinoki barrel's soft, sake-like wood character is said to draw out the meat's flavor rather than mask any gaminess. Worth trying too with other grilled or smoked meats and firm, aged cheeses that can stand up to its wood-driven character.

When to drink it

A conversation-starter bottle for a lamb barbecue or jingisukan night, or a gift for wine lovers curious about Japan's small-batch experimental wineries.

Terroir & Winemaking

Merlot grown in Ina City, Nagano, is aged for a short period in a small hand-made barrel crafted from Ina-grown hinoki (Japanese cypress) rather than oak, embodying the winery's 'grapes of Ina, wood of Ina, cellar of Ina' concept. The barrel's interior is coated with multiple layers of lacquer to tone down hinoki's naturally strong aroma so it complements rather than overwhelms the wine. After barrel time the wine is transferred to bottle for further aging before release. First produced in 2017, with the wood contribution recalibrated for a second batch released as the 2018 vintage referenced here. ABV is not disclosed on the winery's official product page.

About the producer

Ina Wine WorkshopA husband-and-wife 'wine workshop' crafting Ina Valley's small-lot, contract-made wines.伊那市, 長野県 · Founded 2014Visit the producer page →

More wines from Ina Wine Workshop

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Hinoki Merlot different from a typical Merlot?: Instead of resting in oak, the wine is barrel-aged in a small hand-made hinoki (Japanese cypress) barrel from Ina City, with the interior lacquer-coated to soften the wood's aroma — giving it a fresher, almost sake-like barrel character rather than classic vanilla-and-spice oak notes.
What food pairs best with Hinoki Merlot?: The winery's top recommendation is grilled lamb, especially Nagano-style jingisukan eaten with yakiniku sauce or ponzu, which it says brings out the meat's natural flavor rather than masking it.
Is Hinoki Merlot just a gimmick wine?: No — the winery explicitly describes it as 'not a gimmick wine' (キワモノワインではない). The hinoki barrel's aromatic contribution was deliberately dialed back and refined between the first 2017 batch and the 2018 vintage, showing an intent to make a genuinely drinkable style rather than a novelty.
Where can I buy Hinoki Merlot?: It is a small-batch release sold mainly through Ina Wine Workshop's own shop in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, with in-store tastings offered in season rather than wide retail distribution.

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