Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost and second-largest island, constitutes one-fifth of the country's total land area. This island is known for many things, including its harsh winter weather, rural landscapes, thriving agriculture, and, of course, its wines. Playing a key role in Japan's wine industry, Hokkaido accounts for the largest wine grape production and the third largest share of winemaking from domestic grapes. In this spectacular region delicately crafted by nature to engage in the production of unique wines, we'll be highlighting wineries that stand out even further based on their environmental factors, innovative techniques, and overall experience.
Onlyluxe Travel was invited by Hokkaido Tourism Organization on an inspection trip in September 2024 to discover Hokkaido wine tourism.
Niki Hills Winery
Niki is a town in southwest Hokkaido. It is situated in the middle reach of the Yoichi River and is a 30-minute drive from Otaru, a famed sightseeing spot on the island. Seated majestically on a hill overlooking the picturesque town is the 33-hectare Niki Hills Winery. Founded in 2014 and opened in 2019, the winery's vision was to make wine so excellent and unique that people would come from all over the world to Niki Town just for it. These wines reflect the essence of the town and Hokkaido and can still be enjoyed worldwide.
The winery’s wine list features a magnificent range of wines produced from quality grapes, including the flagship Hatsuyuki 2022 white and dry wine made from Kerner grape, and the Hatsuyuki LATE HARVEST 2018, a sweet white wine also made from Kerner, which has won the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 Bronze Award. Another award-winning wine on the list is the Yuhzome 2018 red wine made from Zweigeltrebe—it is the first Japanese red wine to win a gold award.
The Niki Hills winery houses Apercu restaurant, where you can enjoy wine, delectable cuisine, and a stunning ambience. The carefully prepared dishes are inspired by the seasons and tell a story.
There is also a wine shop overlooking the town and Yoichi Bay, where you can indulge in wine and juice shopping after tasting. Different tasting options exist; you can enjoy the wines with snacks and light meals.
Hokkaido Wine
Hokkaido Wine, established in 1974, is the largest winery in Japan, producing over 2 million bottles of wine yearly with about 100 varieties. It owns the expansive Tsurunuma Winery and contracts production to 300 other farmers. Despite being located in Otaru, a cold region, the grape vines are protected by snow during winter. Interestingly, this winery vineyard, the Tsurunuma Winery, was unsuitable for cultivating European grapes. However, through trial and error for over four decades, they established a way to cultivate German varieties.
Its major brands include the "Hokkaido" series, made primarily from Kellner's grapes gotten in Yoichi; the "Otaru" series, produced from Niagra, Japanese table grapes; and the "Tsurunuma" series, featuring wines made from grapes harvested from its Tsurunuma Farm.
Hokkaido Wine holds winery tours and events where you can shop for wine, taste their impressive variety of wines, and learn about the winery's history and winemaking process.
OcciGabi in Yoichi
OccGabi Winery, situated in Yoichi, a renowned centre for producing wine grapes in Hokkaido, is among Japan's top "decent wineries.” This means that the winery is encircled by vineyards, strictly dedicated to wine, and doesn't use any foreign liquids or table grapes. OcciGabi features various exceptional facilities, including a vast underground winery and a storage space that adequately houses long-term equipment for ageing.
The OcciGabi restaurant, famed for its mouthwatering French and international cuisine prepared with fresh, top-quality ingredients, is one of the best in Yoichi. Gorgeous garden views and an impeccable wine selection featuring wines from its extensive list, including the Black Label series, Pinot Gris, vintage red demi-sec, Chardonnay, and Zwigeltrebe, accompany the delicious dishes.
OcciGabi also offers wine-tasting experiences in its scenic garden, which adds the charm of the outdoors to the dazzling wine flavours, or at the tasting counter, which offers distant mountain vistas of Sapporo and Otaru.
A Toast to Hokkaido's Wine Legacy
From its wine history dating back to the 1800s to playing a huge role in Japanese wine production, Hokkaido has come a long way. It is surely a place to tour prominent wineries, taste luscious wines paired with perfect dishes, and learn about the region's wine culture and history.
Please contact us for a tailor-made Hokkaido itinerary including boutique winery experiences in Hokkaido.
