08/12/2025
Have you ever tried wine from Iwate, Japan?
Iwate sits right in the middle of the world’s “Wine Belt,” sharing the same ideal climate as famous wine regions across Europe.
This week’s highlight is Kuzumaki Wine, crafted in the cool highlands of Kuzumaki Town.
They are known for wine made from the rare Japanese yama-budou (crimson glory vine grapes), which have bold acidity and rich aroma.
The winery was built 47 years ago when a town official (now the mayor!) wanted to make use of the town’s yama-budou and started learning grape growing and winemaking from scratch. Today, Kuzumaki Wine works with 25 local farmers and practices sustainable production that respects the cycle of nature.
“Nadore,” which means “you and me” in the local dialect, is one of their most popular wines. You can enjoy tasting “Nadore” and over 20 other kinds of wine for free!
For the perfect pairing with Kuzumaki wines, try Kuzumaki cheese! The town is also famous for dairy, offering everything from string cheese to caciocavallo.
Kuzumaki is a quiet highland town with very few international visitors, so come discover this hidden gem and Iwate’s wine for yourself.
Check out The Kitakami Times here: https://www.iwate-ilc.jp/eng/ktimes/the-story-of-z/
The Kitakami Times is an online newsletter that provides information on food and tourism in Iwate and the Kitakami Mountains, a proposed site for the ILC, to an international audience.