Grapes from the North: Hokkaidō Winemakers Take the Wine World by Storm

Nakazawa Vineyard’s flagship product Kurisawa Blanc 2020 (left) and the healthy grapes that create its clean flavors. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

Kondō Yosuke standing in his Moseusi field. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

Pinot Noir grapes starting to take on color in the fields at Moseusi. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

At left, the building housing buried kvevri pots, and at right three bottles from Kurisawa Wines (Kondō Vineyards). (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

The Chibas, Shinji and Eri, of Chiba Vineyard. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

Left: Bacchus grapes at Chiba Vineyard, about one month from harvesting. All the farmers can do is pray they make it that long unharmed. Right: a rabbit invader. The cute looks belie their danger. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

Miyamoto Ryōhei stands in a newly planted vine plot at Miyamoto Vineyard. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)

Miyamoto and the clone MV6, which he considers the cornerstone of his Pinot Noir. This clone is said to have roots in the Clos de Vougeot grape of the Burgundy region of France. (© Ukita Yasuyuki)