Kitani Wine
木谷ワイン
Nara's pioneering first winery, founded in 2022 by a Kyoto University graduate turned banker turned vigneron, crafting purely natural wines from 15+ varieties across organic vineyards in Nara and Osaka. Winner of the JAL Prize at JWA 2025.
Kitani Wine is Nara Prefecture's first and only winery, founded in 2022 by Kazuto Kitani (木谷一登) in Kashiba City, Nara. Kazuto was born and raised in Nara and pursued an unconventional path to winemaking: after earning a postgraduate degree from Kyoto University researching diabetes prevention, he worked as a banker, where visits to Katashimo Winery—one of his bank's clients—ignited a passion for viticulture and winemaking. In 2016, he left the financial world to undergo rigorous training at Katashimo Winery in Osaka, and in January 2018 he struck out on his own as an independent grape grower. In September 2022, he obtained his winemaking license and officially became Nara's first winemaker. Kitani cultivates approximately 1.5–3 hectares of vineyards spread across Nara and Osaka, growing around 15–20 grape varieties. Key plots include a main field in Tenri City, Nara, and parcels in Habikino, Taishi, and Kashiwara in Osaka Prefecture. Varieties grown include Delaware, Koshu, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Mondobrill (Mondebrière), Vignoles, Kyoho, Pione, Black Beat, Golby, Shine Muscat, and Zweigelt, among others. Farming is fully organic: no herbicides, no chemical fertilizers, with only minimal Bordeaux mixture and lime-sulfur used when absolutely necessary. Cover cropping (草生栽培) is practiced throughout the vineyards. In the cellar, Kitani's philosophy is strict minimalism—no cultured yeast, no added sulfites, no chaptalization, and no filtration. All wines are made with spontaneous indigenous fermentation, allowing the character of each vintage and terroir to speak clearly. Kitani Wine received the JAL Prize (JAL賞) at the Japan Winery Award (JWA) 2025, recognizing it as an outstanding next-generation winery with exceptional promise for the future of Japanese wine. This award, presented alongside Japan Airlines, is bestowed on wineries seen as torchbearers for the next era of domestic wine. Among Kitani's signature ambitions is producing a world-class sparkling wine from Delaware—a variety long underestimated in Japan—elevating it to the prestige of a "Dom Pérignon from Delaware."
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Who Is This For?
Wine enthusiasts curious about Japan's newest wine frontiers, natural wine lovers seeking terroir-driven, additive-free expressions, and anyone drawn to the story of a passionate career-changer bringing Nara's ancient land to life in the glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Kitani Wine located?
- Kitani Wine is based in Kashiba City (香芝市), Nara Prefecture, with vineyards spread across Tenri City in Nara and multiple municipalities in Osaka Prefecture (Habikino, Taishi, Kashiwara).
- When was Kitani Wine founded?
- Kazuto Kitani began growing wine grapes independently in January 2018. The winery itself was established in June 2022 and obtained its winemaking license in September 2022, making it Nara Prefecture's first winery.
- What grape varieties does Kitani Wine use?
- Kitani grows around 15–20 varieties including Delaware, Koshu, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Mondobrill, Kyoho, Pione, Shine Muscat, Zweigelt, and more. Delaware is the variety closest to Kitani's heart, and he dreams of producing a world-class sparkling wine from it.
- Does Kitani Wine use natural/organic methods?
- Yes. In the vineyard, Kitani uses no herbicides or chemical fertilizers, practicing cover cropping and applying only minimal Bordeaux mixture and lime-sulfur when necessary. In the cellar, no cultured yeast, sulfites, sugar, or filtration are used—wines are made entirely with spontaneous native fermentation.
- Has Kitani Wine won any awards?
- Yes. Kitani Wine received the JAL Prize (JAL賞) at the Japan Winery Award (JWA) 2025, which recognizes outstanding next-generation wineries with exceptional promise for the future of Japanese wine.