Which do you prefer innovate or tradition?ShinshuHigh-class grapes that are proud of

Development of new varietiesTimesThat's what it takes. Many people have also worked hard to create Queen Rouge®.

Nagano Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station (Suzaka City)
Researcher, Breeding DepartmentIchikawa Etsuko

Top class sunlight in the nationTimesIt combines the conditions necessary for delicious fruit cultivation, such as the large temperature difference between day and night. Nagano prefecture. It boasts the second largest producer of grapes in the country, a representative autumn fruit, and a variety of varieties are grown all over the prefecture.

That Nagano Queen Rouge® is a new varieties of high-quality grapes that have been developed over the prefecture over 10 years. At the time of development, demand for seeds-free grapes like Shine Muscat, which can be eaten with the skin increased, so the company aimed to create a "red" variety with the same characteristics, and was born by crossing Shine Muscat with a unicorn, which is characterized by a long, reddish purple color and elongated shape.

The most distinctive feature is the bright red color, and while the skin is slightly thinner than Shine Muscat, the flesh is firm, and the skin is crisp and easy to cut. Farmers in the prefecture have been producing multiple red grape varieties for about 40 years, but the coloring and discoloration have not been stable, and they have been repeatedly trial and error. That is why there is high hopes for this Queen Rouge®, which has finally been produced, and producers also have a strong reputation for being "the red color is clear and the grains are solid, making it easy to make."

Nagano The prefectural fruit tree experimental center conducts test cultivation of grapes in one hectare field, and other grapes such as apples, peaches, and plums are also grown in 10 hectare field.

"I hope that it will grow into a variety that will be loved by both consumers and producers, like Shine Muscat and Nagano Purple, which is widely popular among children and elderly people, and that it has been popular for decades, and that it will be loved by both consumers and producers. Also, as the name suggests, Ichikawa hopes to become a "Queen of Grapes," as its name suggests," he said. With the expectations of producers and many people involved in the development, Queen Rouge® will finally make its full-scale debut this fall.

As demand for seeds-free grapes like Shine Muscat have increased, they began developing with the aim of creating a "red" variety with similar characteristics.
It was born from a unicorn that is characterized by its long, reddish purple color and elongated shape, and was made by crossing Shine Muscat.

The most distinctive feature is the bright red color, and while the skin is slightly thinner than Shine Muscat, the flesh is firm, and the skin is crisp and easy to cut.

Farmers in the prefecture have been producing multiple red grape varieties for about 40 years, but the coloring and discoloration have not been stable, and they have been repeatedly trial and error.
That is why there is high hopes for this Queen Rouge®, which has finally been produced, and producers have a strong reputation for being "the red color is clear and the grains are solid, making it easy to make."

At Shukaen, 30% of Kyoho and 70% of other varieties have been cultivated, and we have started cultivating many grapes because we want to offer a balanced proposal to our customers, including appearance, aroma and texture.

Shukaen Co., Ltd. (Tōmi City
presidentWatanabe Takanobu

Kyoho is also known as the "King of Grapes" and is still very popular today. It has many loyal fans and has been loved for many years.

Nagano The "Mother's Tree," a Kyoho tree, which is said to have been planted in the prefecture, isTōmi CityShukaen. At the end of the 1940s, when the predecessor was thinking about a shift from an apple, he received information from a relative who works at a major Tokyo company that "Muscat of Alexandria grapes are very popular because they are available at high prices," and he was moved by his desire to try growing high-grade fruits.

The current presidents Watanabe (right) and Okuhara (left). Many young farmers are active at Shukaen.

"It's a hassle to remove the skin and seeds, but the umami flavor of the grapes is concentrated around the seeds. I think Kyoho, which has a rich flavor and has a truly grape-like variety. I watched over them from a young age, dedicated my life, and Nagano I also have a strong attachment to Kyoho, which is synonymous with high-class grapes, which has laid the foundation for the development of grape cultivation in the prefecture. "We would like to continue to convey the charm of Kyoho in the future," says Watanabe Takanobu, representative of Shukaen.

At the same time, Shukaen strives to grow grapes that meet the needs of its customers, and grows over 30 varieties of grapes, mainly the popular Shine Muscat, Nagano Purple, and Queen Rouge®.

Nagano The "Mother's Tree," a Kyoho tree, which is said to have been planted in the prefecture, isTōmi CityThis is Shukaen.

Shukaen was originally a farmer who grew apples and rice.

At the end of the 1940s, when the previous generation was thinking about a shift from apples, a relative who works at a major Tokyo company said that "Muscat of Alexandria grapes are sold at high prices and are extremely popular in Tokyo," and this inspired him to try growing high-grade fruits.

After that, along with five local farmers, they visited Oinoue Yasushi of Izu, a breeder and creator of Kyoho, and handed over the scion, and planted it in Shukaen in the spring of 1956. This tree is the "mother's tree."

Many young farmers are active at Shukaen.

Production peaked in 1997, and for more than 30 years, the company has been making a new record of " Nagano Kyoho became known as the "Kyoho" grapes of the prefecture.

Exactly Nagano It can be said that it has supported the development of the grape industry in the prefecture.

"We value listening to our customers' opinions, and strive to make the grapes our customers want. We work to cultivate them so that we can offer them a balanced way to make the grapes they want during the time of delivery, considering the variations in color, shape, aroma, and texture when they eat," says Watanabe.

As the saying goes, Shukaen pursues grape production that meets the needs of its customers, and now we have grown more than 30 varieties of grapes, mainly Kyoho, as well as the popular Shine Muscat and Nagano Purple.