Kuju Winery
久住ワイナリー
Kyushu's highest-altitude estate winery, rising from tourist souvenir to Japan's top 4-star producer
Kuju Winery is Kyushu's pioneering high-altitude winery, established in 2002 on the Kuju Highlands of Oita Prefecture within the Aso-Kuju National Park. Perched at 850-900 meters above sea level — the highest self-owned vineyard in Kyushu — the winery cultivates 6 hectares of European varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Schonburger on volcanic ash soils shaped by the iconic Kuju Mountain Range. Since winemaker Koji Tsuchimochi took over in 2018, the winery has leapt from a tourism-oriented producer to a national competition force, earning gold medals at the Japan Wine Competition (including a 2024 category top award for Delaware Gemini), and rising to a 4-star Japan Winery Award in 2025. The winery philosophy centers on clean, world-standard wines: only estate-grown grapes, meticulous sanitation, and an unwavering commitment to elegance over power.
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Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who seek clarity, freshness, and mountain terroir in a bottle — especially fans of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir who want to discover Japan's underrated Kyushu highlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is Kuju Winery located in the mountains of Kyushu?
- Founder Fumio Fujii chose the Kuju Highlands because the 850-meter elevation provides cool temperatures, large diurnal swings, well-drained volcanic ash soils, and strong highland winds that naturally protect vines from disease — conditions ideal for producing elegant, high-acid wines comparable to European alpine regions.
- What elevation are Kuju Winery vineyards at?
- Kuju Winery's self-owned vineyards sit at 850-900 meters above sea level, making them the highest estate vineyards in Kyushu and among the highest wine-producing sites in western Japan.
- What is Kuju Winery's winemaking philosophy?
- Winemaker Koji Tsuchimochi aims to produce 'clean, world-standard wines' — using only estate-grown grapes, strict hygiene protocols, and minimal intervention. He views bottled wine as a global product that must stand up against international benchmarks of the same variety.
- What awards has Kuju Winery won?
- Kuju Winery earned Gold and Category Top Award at the 2024 Japan Wine Competition for Delaware Gemini 2023, Gold medals in 2022-2023, plus Silver at the 2021 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition. In 2025, the winery achieved a 4-star Japan Winery Award, rising from 3 stars.
- What grape varieties does Kuju Winery grow?
- The estate's 6 hectares are planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Schonburger, Delaware, and a unique yamabudo (mountain grape) hybrid called EBONY. All grapes are estate-grown and hand-harvested by winery staff — no contracted farmers.