About Sunmamoru Winery
- Founded
- 2007
- 19 years ago
- Location
- むつ市
- 青森県
- Wines listed
- 24
- Sparkling 2, White 6, Rosé 4, Red 10, Sweet 2
- Main grapes
- Steuben, Reichensteiner, Pinot Noir
Sunmamoru Winery is the northernmost winery on Honshu, located in Kawauchi-cho, Mutsu City on Aomori's remote Shimokita Peninsula. Founder Yoshihisa Kitamura began planting grapes on unused farmland in 1998 and obtained a winemaking license in 2007. The winery's roughly 11.3-hectare MK Vineyard sits at 41°N — within the world's wine belt and climatically comparable to Burgundy — where Mount Osore shields the vines from the harsh 'yamase' northeast wind that once made the region seem unsuitable for viticulture. Pinot Noir accounts for around 40% of plantings and earned Japan's first-ever gold medal for the variety at the Japan Wine Competition in 2016; Merlot, the winery's own Pinot Noir x wild grape cross 'Kitano Yume,' and rare white varieties Reichensteiner and Schönburger round out the lineup. Sunmamoru also exports to Taiwan and operates a subsidiary in Hawaii, and produces sparkling cider from local Aomori apples.
Who Is This For?
For those curious about extreme cool-climate Japanese Pinot Noir from the country's northernmost vineyards.
Wines of Sunmamoru Winery
White6
Rosé4
Red10
Location & Nearby
- Address
- 青森県むつ市川内町川代1番地6View map ↗
- Founded
- 2007
Source: sunmamoru.com (checked Sep 2026) / imadeya.co.jp (checked Sep 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Sunmamoru Winery located?
- In Kawauchi-cho, Mutsu City on Aomori's Shimokita Peninsula — the northernmost winery on the island of Honshu, at 41°N latitude.
- What is Sunmamoru Winery known for?
- Its Pinot Noir, grown in the winery's own roughly 11.3-hectare MK Vineyard, which won Japan's first-ever gold medal for the variety at the Japan Wine Competition in 2016.
- What other grapes does Sunmamoru grow?
- Merlot, its own Pinot Noir x wild-grape cross 'Kitano Yume,' and rare white varieties Reichensteiner and Schönburger.
- When was the winery founded?
- Grape cultivation began in 1998 on previously unused farmland, and a winemaking license was obtained in 2007.
- Does Sunmamoru Winery export overseas?
- Yes, it has exported to Taiwan since 2017 and established a subsidiary in Hawaii.