For those of you who could not attend of August 10 event, we wanted to give you a brief overview of the wines we tasted and the discussion those wines begat...
Category: Recommendations
July Recommendations
This has been a rainy season that we all wish to forget. It has rained nearly every day since the latter part of June and continues as we write on July 16. And this is not just any ordinary rain – precipitation has been at record levels causing major flooding in the Matsumoto area and … Continue reading July Recommendations
June Recommendations
ALPS markets a very nice Chardonnay for 2700 yen under its Musee du Vin Maestro brand. This wine has a nice gold color and a fruity, fresh taste. But for 300 yen more a bottle, you get an entirely different experience: The Dynastie Shiojiri brand exclusively uses grapes from fields that are managed directly by the company rather than from contract farmers.
April Recommendations
Like us, we suspect that most of you are hunkered down waiting out the coronavirus. But despite the “isolation”, we continue to enjoy Nagano wines ordered online directly from the wineries. You can too! Our recommendations this month focus on Nagano wineries that offer a wide selection of interesting wines, payment by credit card and … Continue reading April Recommendations
March Recommendations
March is an in between month in Nagano. It is still winter – the mornings are below zero degrees and the mountains are still white with snow. But Spring is just around the corner – and none more so than this year when a combination of light snowfall and temperatures rising into the teens have … Continue reading March Recommendations
February Recommendations: A Visit to Chateau Mercian Mariko Vineyard
This past weekend we traveled to Chateau Mercian's new visitor's center at its 30 hectare Mariko Vineyard. Chateau Mercian began developing the Mariko Vineyard nearly 20 years ago naming it after a 6th century scion of the Kinmei Emperor. The area is widely regarded as one of the best wine-growing areas in Nagano Prefecture, because … Continue reading February Recommendations: A Visit to Chateau Mercian Mariko Vineyard
January Recommendations
We are starting out the New Year with some delicious recommendations for red wines. Nagano is increasingly becoming known for the quality and variety of its red wines. Merlot remains at the top of the heap and we have a very nice 100 percent Merlot from the Manns Winery in Komoro City that will make … Continue reading January Recommendations
December Recommendations
The Christmas Season is approaching and there is no better time to enjoy the “fruits of the vine” than this period. So, we are recommending two delicious reds that will compliment your turkey and gravy. Many Japanese winemakers have embraced the notion that they need to make wines that go well with Japanese foods, such … Continue reading December Recommendations
