La Belle Vigne
ラベルヴィーニュ
A tiny Katsunuma estate where a Michelin-restaurant sommelier turned vigneron crafts fewer than 2,000 bottles a year using lutte raisonnée farming and minimal-intervention winemaking. The flagship Koshu white showcases Japanese citrus aromatics — yuzu, iyokan, hassaku — with a silky texture and clean, refreshing acidity.
La Belle Vigne is a small husband-and-wife winery founded in 2019 on the banks of the Hikawa River in Katsunuma, Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The name is French for 'beautiful vine,' reflecting the founders' philosophy of creating wines in harmony with nature. Winemaker Daisuke Gotoh trained at the University of Bordeaux and served as head sommelier at a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, before realising his dream of becoming a vigneron. He now commutes between Tokyo and Yamanashi, personally overseeing both viticulture and winemaking. The estate owns approximately 0.5 hectares of vines and produces around 2,000 bottles per year. La Belle Vigne is one of the founding members of the Katsunuma Wine Village. The winery received a Connoisseurs recognition at the Japan Winery Award 2025.
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Who Is This For?
Wine lovers who seek authentic, small-production Japanese wines with a clear sense of place. Ideal for those curious about Koshu's distinctive umami-edged citrus character, and for sommeliers and enthusiasts who appreciate the story of a trained sommelier who left the fine-dining floor to farm his own vines.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does 'La Belle Vigne' mean?
- It is French for 'the beautiful vine.' The name embodies the founders' vision of creating wines that are beautiful in their harmony with nature — starting from healthy soil, through careful viticulture, to minimal-intervention winemaking.
- Who founded La Belle Vigne and what is their background?
- The winery was founded by Daisuke and Mayumi Gotoh. Daisuke studied at the University of Bordeaux and worked as head sommelier at a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. He commutes to Yamanashi to oversee cultivation and winemaking, realising a long-held dream of becoming a vigneron.
- What grape varieties does La Belle Vigne use?
- The estate focuses on indigenous and locally-grown varieties including Koshu, Delaware, and Muscat Bailey A, as well as European varieties such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot. Koshu is the signature white grape, fermented in stainless steel to preserve its delicate citrus and herbal aromas.
- What is the winemaking philosophy?
- La Belle Vigne practices lutte raisonnée (reasoned pest management) in the vineyard, building healthy soil as the foundation. In the cellar, intervention is kept to a minimum — fermentation is treated as a natural extension of grape growing, avoiding excessive stress on the wine. Reds are crafted as firm, dry wines; whites as gentle and dry.
- What awards has La Belle Vigne received?
- La Belle Vigne received a Connoisseurs recognition at the Japan Winery Award (日本ワイナリーアワード) 2025, affirming the quality and consistency of its small-production wines.