Kurisawa Wines
栗澤ワインズ
The rare joint winery born from two Hokkaido farming families — Nakazawa Vineyard and KONDO Vineyard — whose combined mastery of cool-climate aromatics and natural winemaking defines the Kurisawa style.
Kurisawa Wines (栗澤ワインズ) is a joint winery in the Kurisawa district of Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, co-founded in 2017 by two neighbouring farming families: Kazuyuki and Yukiko Nakazawa of Nakazawa Vineyard, and brothers Ryosuke and Takumi Kondo of KONDO Vineyard. Before founding the winery, both families had independently vinified their grapes — first at Coco Farm Winery in Tochigi (Nakazawa, 2002–2012), then at 10R Winery in the same Kurisawa township (Nakazawa from 2013; Kondo from 2012–2016) — giving Kurisawa Wines the benefit of over a decade of viticultural experience before its first harvest under its own roof. The shared facility enables each grower to produce wines under their own vineyard label as well as collaborative bottlings. The philosophy across all labels is minimal-intervention: indigenous yeast fermentation, no fining or filtration, and little or no added sulphites. KONDO Vineyard additionally employs horse-drawn cultivation and ancient Georgian qvevri (clay vessels buried underground) for fermentation and ageing. Kurisawa Wines is widely regarded as one of the most important natural wine producers in Japan.
nakazawavineyard.jp/ ↗Cuvées
クリサワ ケルナー
Kurisawa Kerner
WhitedryKerner
Kurisawa Kerner is a single-varietal white wine produced from Kerner grapes grown in Nakazawa Vineyard's plot in the Kurisawa district of Iwamizawa, Hokkaido. Kerner — a cool-climate German crossing of Trollinger and Riesling — thrives in Hokkaido's cold winters and short but warm summers, producing wines with vivid aromatic character: floral notes of white peach and lychee, a mineral smokiness reminiscent of Riesling, and a clean, food-friendly acidity. Vinified with indigenous yeast and minimal sulphites under the Kurisawa Wines facility, the wine is unfiltered and unfined, expressing the full personality of this underappreciated variety in a Japanese terroir.
ピノ・グリ マセラシオン
Pinot Gris Maceration
rosedryPinot Gris
Pinot Gris Maceration is a skin-contact rosé produced from Pinot Gris grown in the Kurisawa district under the Kurisawa Wines label. Pinot Gris, whose skin pigmentation ranges from grey-pink to coppery-bronze, yields a naturally rosé-coloured wine when allowed brief contact with the skins during fermentation. The maceration adds body and a touch of tannin while preserving the variety's characteristic stone-fruit and floral notes. Produced with indigenous yeast and without fining or filtration, it stands as a textured, food-friendly expression of Hokkaido Pinot Gris in a natural winemaking style.
Tブラン
T Blanc
WhiteAuxerrois · Pinot Gris · Sylvaner · Pinot Noir · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc · Gewurztraminer
T Blanc is a highly sought-after white wine crafted by Takumi Kondo at Kurisawa Wines in Hokkaido. It is a field blend of various cool-climate grape varieties, reflecting the unique terroir of the Sorachi region. The wine is known for its pure, elegant, and complex profile, often featuring notes of white flowers, stone fruits, and a distinct mineral backbone. With a gentle, natural winemaking approach, it captures the essence of the land, offering a harmonious balance between vibrant acidity and subtle, savory depth.
Who Is This For?
For natural wine lovers, Hokkaido terroir seekers, and collectors who appreciate ultra-small-production Japanese wines with distinct character and rarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the relationship between Kurisawa Wines, Nakazawa Vineyard, and KONDO Vineyard?
- Kurisawa Wines is the shared winery building co-founded and co-owned by Nakazawa Vineyard and KONDO Vineyard. Each grower farms their own vineyards independently and produces wines under their own label — but since 2017 they share the same production facility, equipment, and winery name. Some bottlings are labelled 'Kurisawa Wines' as a unified brand.
- Where is Kurisawa Wines located exactly?
- The winery is in the Kurisawa district (栗沢地区) of Iwamizawa City, Sorachi subprefecture, Hokkaido — roughly 45 minutes east of Sapporo by car. The surrounding flat farmland, gentle south-facing slopes, and cold winters define the terroir.
- How many bottles does Kurisawa Wines produce per year?
- Production across all labels is extremely limited — typically a few thousand bottles per cuvée. Some bottlings such as T-Blanc have been produced in runs of under 200 bottles. This scarcity means wines often sell out within days of release.
- Can I visit Kurisawa Wines?
- The winery does not operate a public tasting room. Wines are distributed through specialist wine merchants in Japan, and the best way to experience them is through curated wine bars in Tokyo or Sapporo, or through direct contact with the producers at harvest events.
- What makes Kurisawa Wines natural wine different from other Japanese natural wines?
- Kurisawa Wines benefits from two decades of trial-and-error viticulture in Hokkaido's cold climate, indigenous wild-yeast fermentation, and — in the case of KONDO Vineyard — the unique use of traditional Georgian qvevri clay vessels for fermentation. The result is wines of profound texture and aromatic complexity unmatched in Japanese natural wine.