About OLIFANT
- Founded
- 1953
- 73 years ago
- Location
- 大月市
- 山梨県
- Wines listed
- 2
- White 1, Red 1
- Main grapes
- Koshu, Muscat Bailey A
OLIFANT is a Japanese wine brand produced since 1953 by Sasaichi Sake Brewery, a sake house with over 350 years of history based in Otsuki City in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture. The brand name comes from the horn ("olifant") of Bacchus, the god of wine, coined by French literature scholar Takashi Tatsuno, with a label designed by Yamanashi-born painter Hideo Hagiwara. Applying the precision fermentation control and rigorous hygiene standards developed over centuries of sake brewing, OLIFANT crafts wines centered on native varieties such as Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, alongside European cultivars like Chardonnay and Syrah grown on its own vineyards. The house philosophy is to express Yamanashi terroir as fully as possible in every bottle, aiming for a refined, gentle, and layered style ('kirei de yasashiku fukami no aru') built to complement delicate Japanese cuisine. The brand has repeatedly won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Japan Wine Competition and exports internationally.
Who Is This For?
For those who want to taste Japan's sake-brewing craftsmanship applied to wine, and who enjoy refined, clean-profile wines built to pair with Japanese cuisine.
Wines of OLIFANT
Location & Nearby
- Address
- 山梨県大月市笹子町吉久保26番地View map ↗
- Founded
- 1953
Source: sasaichi.co.jp (checked Sep 2026)
The pin with the gold outline marks OLIFANT.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Who makes OLIFANT wine?
- OLIFANT is produced by Sasaichi Sake Brewery, a sake house founded in 1661 and based in Otsuki City in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture, which has brewed the OLIFANT wine brand since 1953.
- What is the origin of the name OLIFANT?
- The name comes from the horn ("olifant") carried by Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, and was coined by French literature scholar Takashi Tatsuno.
- What grape varieties does OLIFANT use?
- OLIFANT uses Japan's native Koshu and Muscat Bailey A grapes as well as European varieties such as Chardonnay and Syrah, all grown in Yamanashi Prefecture.
- How does sake-brewing experience influence OLIFANT's winemaking?
- Sasaichi applies the precise fermentation control and strict hygiene standards refined over centuries of sake production to its wine brewing, aiming for clean, well-balanced wines.
- What food pairs well with OLIFANT wines?
- OLIFANT wines are crafted for a clean, gentle, and layered style that pairs especially well with delicate Japanese cuisine, from sashimi to grilled dishes.