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Welcome to KIZAN WINERY

KIZAN WINERY is a small family-oparated winery. For more than 60 years, Tsuchiya's family has been growing grapes and making wine and brandy in ENZAN.　We have been making both white and red wines in the traditional way, and to the end we believe that the Japanese varietal wines are best suited for the Japanese dishes. In 2002 vintage, we crashed 30 tons of grapes.　Approximately 50% of the grapes came from family-oparated vineyards and the remainder came from neighboring growers. KIZAN WINE is truly regional wine.

Viticulture in Japan has many disadvantages. First, and most seriously, it is high humidity in growing season. Because we have a lot of rain in July (flowering season) and September (just before harvesting), many disease problems occur. Especially, European varieties, which usually have thin skins and relatively small berries, are less resistant to powdery and downy mildews and bunch rot. Second, as soils tend to be acidic, soil amelioration is necessary. Finally, as each vineyard is small (average size of vineyard is less than 1 ha/individual grower) and located on the steps, vineyard mechanization is difficult. Therefore growing good grapes in Japan is very labor intensive.

Nevertheless, with the principle of "Good Wine Starts with Good Vineyards", KIZAN WINERY has made carefully vineyard management a priority. In February 1996, we established a new vineyard next to the winery, and planted selected clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay. This decision is based on more than 20 year's cultivation and vinification experiments in our original vineyard. Vines are trellised by new system- called Rain-Cut System, which could avoid disease problems by using plastic covers over the rows.　In several years, KIZAN WINERY has produce high quality French style wines.

The third generation Kozo started his winemaker's career in 1994 after awarded Ph.D. in microbiology. He decided to make high quality wine in world terms from traditional French varieties. His wife Yukari, who is also an oenologist, had studied Oenology (winemaking) at the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy) in Australia, which has one of the highest education system for Oenology and Viticulture in the world. With maintaining traditional style, KIZAN WINERY is challenging to next success.

KIZAN WINERY is in the city of ENZAN, which is located east of Kofu Valley enfolded by scenic hills to the north, west and east. It takes 1.5 hour drive from Tokyo (or 1 hours by the express train, KAIJI).　ENZAN is a "Fruits Paradise."　Cherry, strawberry, pram, peach, grape etc. are grown in well-trained fruits gardens and vineyards.　You will enjoy fruits picking at any time of the year. ENZAN is also a "Sightseer's Paradise." 　There are many famous temples and shrines, which are of equal architectural and historical interest.　You will find the good combination of a historical heritage and the fresh vitality of ENZAN.　We extend a warm welcome and invite you to experience quality of ENZAN!