Close to Mount Fuji

If you want to learn more about the half-day walking tour of Japanese wineries, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2018/03/07/half-day-walking-tour-of-japanese-wineries/

This is just an example podcast.

Japan’s Premier Wine-Producing Region

On the sixth day of March, 1868, the famous 300-strong samurai corps known as Shinsengumi, engaged a pro-imperial force 10 times its size at the battle of Koshu-Katsunuma. The members of Shinsengumi were loyal to the last Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshinobu. Yoshinobu wanted to maintain the status quo in Japan by keeping the country closed to outside influence and trade. Unfortunately for Shinsengumi, they were not on the right side of history. The overwhelming force of the pro-imperial combatants won the day, while 179 members of Shinsengumi were either killed or wounded. This battle is seen as decisive in the Boshin Civil War of 1868-1869.

Why is this bit of history important? As it turns out, the defeat of the forces loyal to the last Shogun at the battle of Koshu-Katsunuma was a necessary step for the modernization of Japan. Although I sympathize with the members of Shinsengumi, a force that lived by the samurai code of Bushido, their defeat helped usher in rapid change for Japan. One of these changes meant that ordinary Japanese citizens could freely travel to foreign lands, and in the 1870s, two young men from Katsunuma did just that.

They travelled to France to learn the art of winemaking, and the rest is history. Now, some 150 years after the battle of Koshu Katsunuma, the area surrounding the historic battle site is producing fine wines that beg the attention of the rest of the world.

This is just an example podcast.

Japan’s Premier Wine-Producing Region

On the sixth day of March, 1868, the famous 300-strong samurai corps known as Shinsengumi, engaged a pro-imperial force 10 times its size at the battle of Koshu-Katsunuma. The members of Shinsengumi were loyal to the last Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshinobu. Yoshinobu wanted to maintain the status quo in Japan by keeping the country closed to outside influence and trade. Unfortunately for Shinsengumi, they were not on the right side of history. The overwhelming force of the pro-imperial combatants won the day, while 179 members of Shinsengumi were either killed or wounded. This battle is seen as decisive in the Boshin Civil War of 1868-1869.

Why is this bit of history important? As it turns out, the defeat of the forces loyal to the last Shogun at the battle of Koshu-Katsunuma was a necessary step for the modernization of Japan. Although I sympathize with the members of Shinsengumi, a force that lived by the samurai code of Bushido, their defeat helped usher in rapid change for Japan. One of these changes meant that ordinary Japanese citizens could freely travel to foreign lands, and in the 1870s, two young men from Katsunuma did just that.

They travelled to France to learn the art of winemaking, and the rest is history. Now, some 150 years after the battle of Koshu Katsunuma, the area surrounding the historic battle site is producing fine wines that beg the attention of the rest of the world.

Today, Katsunuma boasts more than 30 operating wineries, and some of these wineries are producing excellent wines, especially white wines. On 23 April, 2017, I attended the opening of Katsunuma’s newest winery, Matsuzaka Green Vineyards (MGVs), and tasted some excellent white wines.

The prices of these wines are not cheap, but the volume of production is low while the quality is high. It is interesting to note that the winery is a joint venture between a semiconductor producer and a vineyard. In fact, the semiconductor side of the business has modified the winery’s imported machinery and its storage facilities to ensure the highest possible quality control.

However, there are some things you can’t improve on, such as oak-barrel aging. MGVs sources its barrels from around the globe to get the best possible results.

In the end, however, the proof is in the tasting, and the tasting didn’t disappoint.

UPDATE:

It was a pleasure to join a special wine-tasting and food-pairing session at MGVs Winery on 29 January, 2018. An American wine writer, Alder Yarrow, the editor of “vinography.com,” was touring Katsunuma wineries, and I was asked by the owner of MGVs to help introduce his winery.

Although the winery’s owner, Mr. Matsuzaka, had chosen his favourite wines to accompany our lunch, that is, the 2016 B521 GI YAMANASHI, rosé wine, with salad, the 2016 K131 SHIMOKAWAKUBO, white wine, with tempura and sashimi, and the 2016 B153 SHIMOIWASAKI, red wine, with Koshu beef and abalone liver, Mr. Yarrow actually preferred the 2016 K131 KATSUNUMA-CHO, white wine.

It was a delight to see the winemaker’s reaction when Mr. Yarrow chose the 2016 K131 KATSUNUMA-CHO, white wine, as his favourite MGVs wine from 2016. Both the winemaker and the owner were beaming with delight to discover that they had yet another recommended wine.

I wish MGVS a great 2017 Vintage!

UPDATE:

MGVs released its 2017 vintage on April 22, 2018, and its first sparkling wine. I tried the new sparkling wine and it has a refreshingly dry kick. I loved it!

To launch his new vintage, MGVs’ president led tours of his vineyards around Katsunuma.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the day despite the unseasonably warm weather.

If you are inspired to visit MGVs, please try one of the tours listed on my website, closetomountfuji.com.

以下は、山梨県勝沼町にあるシャトー・メルシャンワイナリーのツアーから抜粋したAI音声ポッドキャストの英語テキストです。AI音声ツアー、またはAI音声ポッドキャスト作成の詳細については、下記までご連絡ください。

http://closetomountfuji.com/enquiries/

Welcome to the Underground Cellar

The smell of oak-aged wine is absolutely Devine! It’s a heady mixture of evaporating wine from the 500 to 600 barrels stored here. Château Mercian ages 90% of its wines in French oak, which is generally accepted as being the best as it is highly aromatic. These complex aromas result from the fact that the most sought after oak only grows in a few regions of France, where the soil is poor in nutrients, not too moist, and contains no iron. The oak’s fine porosity is a result of it growing extremely slowly in the ‘poor’ soil. The winery also uses American oak for about 10% of its wines. American oak is also very aromatic and has proven to be well adapted to maturing red wines with an intense palate. Its sweet coconut aroma goes very well with our Muscat Bailey A red wines and some of our Chardonnays. These barrels can be used for up to 10 years. The first 2 years of use results in the very best wines. Each year we add about 100 new barrels and we keep a total of about 1000 of these barrels all together. White wines are oak-aged up to 6 months, while the reds age anywhere from 15 months to as long as 30. 

The ideal temperature of this cellar is 19 degrees Celsius, so it is necessary to run a cooling system in the summer months. In addition, we keep the humidity at around 70%. Anything less than 70% humidity will cause the wine to evaporate too quickly. 

If you look closely at the lids of the barrels, some have MT or MTL+ (Medium Toast/Medium Toast Long +) indicated on them. Toasting the insides of the barrels gives a vanilla, chocolate, roasted almond or caramel aroma to the wines. In fact, we can order 7 different levels of toasting from the manufacturers to suit our exacting specifications. There are also lids made from cherry and acacia! These lids give a slightly different aroma and flavor to our wines.

If you want to learn more about Myouren Waterfall, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2016/07/19/myouren-waterfall/

If you want to learn more about Himuro Shrine, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2016/07/19/himuro-shrine/

If you want to learn more about Mitama Onsen, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2017/04/10/the-rhythm-of-rural-life-in-yamanashi-japan/

If you want to learn more about Daizen-ji Temple, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2017/05/13/daizen-ji-budo-dera-temple-of-grapes/

If you want to learn more about MGVs Winery, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2017/04/24/japans-premier-wine-producing-region/

If you want to learn more about MGVs Winery, just follow the link:

http://closetomountfuji.com/2017/04/24/japans-premier-wine-producing-region/