vol.2 [Chikuma River Wine Valley] Villa Dest Winery Tamamura Toyoo and Konishi Cho-san

Chikuma River Wine Valley
Villa Dest Winery Tamamura Toyoo Konishi Cho

From Komoro CityNakano CityThe Chikuma River Wine Valley stretches along the Chikuma River. This is a production area where small but unique, up-and-coming wineries are increasing year by year. Tamamura Toyoo, owner of Villa Dest Winery, which opened in 2003, can be said to be a pioneering presence.

"I chose this place because I wanted to make fields in the countryside with a beautiful scenery. The gentle slopes spread southwest and the sunny side reminded me of the French vineyards I once visited many times while studying abroad. So I sourced seedlings and planted about 500 of the three varieties of Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir in 1992," says Tamamura.

Villa Dest Winery Chairman Tamamura Toyoo

The land that Tamamura cultivated was a former mulberry field. From the Meiji period to the early Showa period, mulberry fields spread from Higashi-Go to Ueda, and many farmers carried out silkworm farming. However, after the war, sericulture declined, and mulberry fields began to be left unattended. After about 50 years, the vineyards that have become wasteland are now being regenerated into wine vineyards.

"I describe it as silk to wine, but in areas with open river terraces along the Chikuma River, it is said that good silkworms were formed, especially because the wind passes through, making them difficult for insects to catch. Because mulberry and grapes are grown in similar cultivation conditions, many of the vineyards that produce high-quality wine nationwide have been regenerated from mulberry fields."

Villa Dest Winery

Wine grapes are plants that prefer dry climates.Tōmi CityEven in Japan, there was only a few rainfall, and it was arguably the most popular among the two.TimesIt's also a long area. Furthermore, the temperature difference is large and the climate is well-ventilated, making it perfect for growing wine grapes.

"We were told, 'It's a high altitude here at about 850m, and it's too cold to wine,' but perhaps due to the effects of global warming, and temperatures have risen, so after about 10 years, high quality grapes have started growing. We started growing wine grapes in half the time, but now we've seen a good spot at this high altitude, which is said to be foresightful."

Villa Dest Winery also boasts many awards in domestic and international wine competitions, producing many high-quality wines. However, Tamamura says that the appeal of wine lies in its diversity.

"Wine making is the expression of the value of the land through wine, expressed by grapes grown in different climates in each land. Therefore, I believe that the true way to enjoy it is to compare wines and feel the differences between different lands, rather than by different types of wine."

Konishi Cho, who has been involved in grape-producing alongside Tamamura since its founding, also said, "Not only is the climate, Nagano I think the efforts of our ancestors who have been involved in the production of wine grapes in the prefecture have been linked to the present day. So, I wonder if human power will become part of the climate."

Konishi Cho, CEO of Villa Dest Winery

One of the charms of wine is that it can be enjoyed with meals. "When I imagine a table with wine, I think of food and people surrounding the table, as well as wine. I think that by spreading wine, it will lead to the development of food culture and tourism, with cheese workshops, meat and fish producers gather, restaurants and hotels to enjoy them, and hotels for stays," says Tamamura.

Because wines enjoy the differences between terroirs, they feel the nature that nurtures grapes, interact with the producers who make wine, and enjoy wine along with the unique foods of the local area, and are also attracting attention. Nagano We are also exploring new ways to enjoy wine.

*This article is information as of July 2022. Please note that the products we carry may have changed.

NAGANO WINEStory Vol.1
Click here for "[Kikyogahara Wine Valley] Hayashi Farm (Goichiwain)"