Marufuji Winery
丸藤葡萄酒工業
135-year Yamanashi icon — G7 summit-selected, JWA 2025 five-star, Japan's benchmark for dry Koshu
Founded in 1890 in Katsunuma, Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Marufuji Winery is one of Japan's most historically significant wineries, now in its fourth generation under the Omura family. The winery produces wines under the brand name 'Rubaiyat,' a name inspired by the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam's collection of quatrains celebrating wine and beauty. Since well before dry wines became fashionable in Japan, Marufuji has steadfastly championed the dry style, cultivating both the traditional Koshu grape and European varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Their own vineyards are farmed with minimal chemical inputs under a no-till, grass-growing approach, guided by the principles of terroir and 'right grape, right place.' In 2016, the Rubaiyat Petit Verdot 2012 was selected for the G7 Ise-Shima Summit working dinner, cementing the winery's standing on the world stage. The winery has also received the highest five-star rating at the Japan Winery Awards 2025.
www.rubaiyat.jp/ ↗Cuvées
No cuvées registered yet.
Who Is This For?
For wine lovers who want to explore the best of Japanese winemaking tradition — especially those drawn to elegant dry whites from Koshu or Bordeaux-inspired reds with a distinctly Japanese sense of restraint. Also ideal for those seeking a benchmark winery to understand Yamanashi's terroir.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where does the name 'Rubaiyat' come from?
- The name 'Rubaiyat' was proposed in 1957 by Konosuke Hatsuka, a renowned Japanese poet and literary scholar. It refers to the collection of quatrains by the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam — a work filled with odes to wine, beauty, and the joy of living. Hatsuka described Khayyam as 'a world-class poet who deeply loved wine and wrote many poems about wine and beautiful women.' The brand name was officially adopted in 1957 (Showa 32).
- When was Marufuji Winery founded and who runs it today?
- Marufuji Winery was founded in May 1890 (Meiji 23) when Jisaku Omura established a small winery in Katsunuma, Yamanashi. The winery has been passed down through four generations of the Omura family. Today it is led by the fourth-generation president Haruo Omura, who studied at Bordeaux University and has driven the winery's commitment to dry wine throughout his stewardship.
- What makes Marufuji Winery's winemaking philosophy distinctive?
- Marufuji has championed dry wines since a time when sweet wines dominated the Japanese market. The fourth-generation president Haruo Omura studied winemaking in Bordeaux and introduced trellised vine training for higher-quality fruit. The winery farms its own vineyards using no-till and grass-growing methods, avoiding herbicides and chemical fertilizers, guided by the twin principles of terroir and 'right grape, right place.'
- What is Marufuji Winery's most famous achievement on the world stage?
- In 2016, the Rubaiyat Petit Verdot 2012 was selected for the G7 Ise-Shima Summit working dinner — a rare honor for a Japanese winery and a testament to world-class quality. The winery also received the highest five-star rating at the Japan Winery Awards 2025.
- Which wine from Marufuji is best for someone new to Japanese wine?
- The Rubaiyat Koshu Sur Lie is widely regarded as a benchmark for the Koshu style — dry, crisp, and mineral-driven with notes of white peach, yuzu, and lychee. CEO Haruo Omura himself particularly recommends this wine as an introduction to authentic Japanese white wine. It pairs beautifully with sushi, sashimi, and white fish dishes.