Kondo Vineyard
KONDOヴィンヤード
Pioneer of kvevri winemaking in Hokkaido; horse-drawn viticulture and mixed-planting field blends from Sorachi's cool inland terroir
Kondo Vineyard is a family-owned grape farm and winery in the Sorachi subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan, operated by brothers Ryosuke Kondo (近藤良介) and Takumi Kondo (近藤拓身). Ryosuke established the first Tap-Kop farm in Mikasa in 2007, followed by the Moseushi farm in Iwamizawa's Kurisawa district in 2011. For five years (2012–2016) grapes were vinified under contract at the pioneering 10R Winery in Kurisawa. In 2017, together with neighboring Nakazawa Vineyard (the Nakazawa family) and Takumi, they co-founded Kurisawa Wines (栗澤ワインズ) — their own winery — marking the start of fully independent production. The estate is known for horse-drawn cultivation, chemical-free farming, and the use of ancient Georgian qvevri vessels buried underground for fermentation and aging. Kondo's signature 'konkon' series expresses mixed-planted field blends of up to ten varieties, embracing the land rather than the individual grape.
www.kondo-vineyard.com ↗Cuvées
タプ・コプ ブラン
Tap-Kop Blanc
WhitedrySauvignon Blanc · Kerner · Gewürztraminer · Riesling · Chardonnay
Tap-Kop Blanc is an aromatic dry white wine sourced from Kondo Vineyard's Tap-Kop farm in Mikasa, Hokkaido. The wine is a blend of aromatic white varieties — primarily Sauvignon Blanc, Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Chardonnay — harvested from cool-climate vines farmed without synthetic chemicals. Pressed slowly and fermented in large wooden tanks and stainless-steel barrels, it captures the vivid freshness of the Sorachi appellation. The wine rewards 1–2 years of cellaring to develop complexity while retaining its characteristic bright acidity.
タプ・コプ レンベルガー
Tap-Kop Lemberger
ReddryLemberger
Tap-Kop Lemberger is a red wine made from Lemberger (Blaufränkisch) grown at Kondo Vineyard's Tap-Kop farm in Mikasa, Hokkaido. Lemberger is a rare variety in Japan, and Kondo's cool-climate version brings out the variety's characteristic freshness, spice, and dark fruit profile. The wine exemplifies the estate's minimal-intervention philosophy.
コンコン クヴェヴリ
Konkon Kvevri
orangeamberdryPinot Gris · Auxerrois · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc · Gewürztraminer · Kerner · Sylvaner · Riesling
Konkon Kvevri is Kondo Vineyard's most distinctive wine and Japan's most celebrated example of qvevri-style winemaking. It is a field blend of up to eight white varieties — Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Sylvaner, and Riesling — drawn 56% from the Tap-Kop farm (Mikasa) and 44% from the Moseushi farm (Iwamizawa). Grapes are harvested together from the mixed-planted parcels and fermented with skins and seeds in buried Georgian qvevri vessels (600L+) as well as local Hokkaido earthenware made by potter Futoshi Nakamura of Shari Kiln. The wine spends approximately six months in qvevri before moving to oak barrels for five more months. In its youth, aromas of black tea, kumquat, and fresh herbs appear; with time, rose, ginger, clove, and sandalwood emerge, and the wine deepens into an amber profile of extraordinary complexity. Production is extremely limited.
タプ・コプ ピノ・ノワール
Tap-Kop Pinot Noir
ReddryPinot Noir
Tap-Kop Pinot Noir is Kondo Vineyard's premier red, made from Pinot Noir grown at the Tap-Kop farm in Mikasa (60%) and the Moseushi farm in Iwamizawa's Kurisawa district (40%). The wine showcases the cool-climate character of Sorachi with vivid red berry fruit, a perfumed nose of red fruits and spice, and an elegantly structured palate. In its youth it displays bright red cherry and raspberry, with clove and pepper notes emerging on the finish. With further aging (peak expected 2026–2032 from the 2021 vintage), deep forest floor, mushroom, and spice complexity develop.
Who Is This For?
Natural wine enthusiasts curious about Japanese terroir, orange wine lovers, adventurous drinkers who appreciate minimal-intervention winemaking and ancient techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who founded Kondo Vineyard?
- Ryosuke Kondo (近藤良介) founded the estate, opening the Tap-Kop farm in Mikasa in 2007. His brother Takumi (近藤拓身) helps manage the vineyards. In 2017, together with the Nakazawa family from Nakazawa Vineyard, they co-founded Kurisawa Wines to gain full control of winemaking.
- What is the 'konkon' label?
- 'Konkon' (コンコン) is Kondo's field-blend label, made from mixed-planted parcels where up to ten white varieties — including Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Sylvaner, and Riesling — grow and are harvested together. The konkon Kvevri version is fermented with skins in buried Georgian clay jars.
- What is a kvevri and why does Kondo use it?
- A qvevri (クヴェヴリ) is a large beeswax-lined clay amphora from Georgia used for fermentation and aging with grape skins. Kondo and the Nakazawa family learned the technique by visiting Georgia, and now use both large Georgian qvevri (600L+) and smaller local earthenware by Hokkaido potter Futoshi Nakamura of Shari Kiln. The method produces complex, amber-hued wines without added sulphur.
- What grape varieties does Kondo grow?
- Kondo cultivates ten varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay, Silvaner, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Some parcels use mixed planting; others are mono-variety, as in the Tap-Kop Pinot Noir.
- Where can I buy Kondo Vineyard wines?
- Wines are available directly from Kurisawa Wines / Kondo Vineyard (kondo-vineyard.com), selected Japanese natural wine retailers, and some specialist importers in Europe and North America. Production is limited, so early allocation is recommended.