Is Kochi a well-known Japanese wine region?

Not yet widely known — Kochi is far better known for sake and katsuo (bonito) — but pioneering wineries like Inoue Winery and Yosakoi Winery are putting it on the map.

What wineries can you visit in Kochi?

Inoue Winery in Konan City and the urban Yosakoi Winery in central Kochi City are the two main producers open to visitors.

What grape varieties are grown in Kochi?

Merlot, the Merlot x wild-vine hybrid 'Fuji no Yume,' and even table grapes such as Shine Muscat (Yuho) and Fujiminori.

Why is Kochi's soil good for grapevines?

Parts of Konan sit on rare limestone deposits often compared to Bordeaux, giving the wines fresh acidity and minerality despite the hot, humid climate.

What food pairs best with Kochi wine?

Katsuo no tataki (seared bonito) and other bold Kochi seafood dishes, which the region's crisp, dry wines are specifically designed to complement.

Region

Kochi

高知県

Limestone soils and bold cuisine shape Kochi's TOSA wines

About Kochi

Producers listed: 1

Kochi Prefecture, on the Pacific coast of Shikoku, is a small but rising Japanese wine region better known for sake, sawachi cuisine, and katsuo (bonito). Despite a hot, humid climate prone to typhoons, pioneering producers such as Inoue Winery in Konan City and the urban Yosakoi Winery in central Kochi City have turned local challenges into strength, farming rare limestone soils often compared to Bordeaux's and using early-ripening trellis training to beat the rainy season. The result is crisp, dry, food-friendly 'TOSA' wines made from Merlot, the Merlot x wild-vine hybrid Fuji no Yume, and even table grapes like Shine Muscat and Fujiminori, built specifically to match Kochi's bold, umami-rich cuisine.

Best for

Travelers who want a dry, mineral-driven wine to pair with bold Kochi seafood like katsuo no tataki.

Food Pairings

Katsuo no tataki (seared bonito with garlic and ponzu), sawachi platters of sashimi and grilled fish, and Pacific seafood generally — Kochi's dry, acid-driven wines are built to cut through rich, punchy flavors.

Producers

ミシマファームワイナリー
Mishima Farm Winery
Mishima Farm Winery is Kochi Prefecture's first licensed winery, founded by Toshio and Kozue Yamanaka in the mountain village of Tosa Town, in the Reihoku region. Kozue took over her family's table-grape farm in 2011 and, together with Toshio, converted it to completely pesticide- and fertilizer-free cultivation, relying on a self-developed "bio-cycle" method that harnesses native soil microbes, insects, and predatory mites instead of agrochemicals. The winery obtained its fruit wine manufacturing license (License No. 57) in June 2017 — the first in Kochi's history — after Tosa Town was designated a special wine-production zone, and released its first vintage in autumn 2018. On just 0.3 hectares, they grow both table grapes (mainly Kyoho and Aki Queen) and dedicated wine varieties including Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Muscat Bailey A, Niagara, Delaware, and Yama Sauvignon, producing only around 2,000 liters (roughly 1,200-3,000 bottles) a year, harvested and sorted entirely by hand.
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www.mishimafarm.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kochi a well-known Japanese wine region?: Not yet widely known — Kochi is far better known for sake and katsuo (bonito) — but pioneering wineries like Inoue Winery and Yosakoi Winery are putting it on the map.
What wineries can you visit in Kochi?: Inoue Winery in Konan City and the urban Yosakoi Winery in central Kochi City are the two main producers open to visitors.
What grape varieties are grown in Kochi?: Merlot, the Merlot x wild-vine hybrid 'Fuji no Yume,' and even table grapes such as Shine Muscat (Yuho) and Fujiminori.
Why is Kochi's soil good for grapevines?: Parts of Konan sit on rare limestone deposits often compared to Bordeaux, giving the wines fresh acidity and minerality despite the hot, humid climate.
What food pairs best with Kochi wine?: Katsuo no tataki (seared bonito) and other bold Kochi seafood dishes, which the region's crisp, dry wines are specifically designed to complement.