Kifutato
One of Japan's youngest up-and-coming winemakers.
Planted 2015 | Winery built 2024
Haramura, Nagano Prefecture
Varieties planted
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Marshmellow Nero
The People
Kifutato is a family-run winery high up in the mountains of Nagano, and home to one of Japan's most exciting new styles. The winery is named after each of the four family members, namely:
Kiriko, the winemaker
Fuko, the artist and also Kiriko's twin sister
Takako, the feisty matriarch of the family
Toshiyuki, the wise and visionary father
Born in 1998, Kiriko is amongst the youngest winemakers in Japan. Yet despite her age, she's managed to craft some exceptional wines, in part from her experience training with experienced winemakers in Japan like Shibutani-san of Domaine Hide and Hatano-san of Cave Hatano.
The Land
Kifutato's vineyards are located in Hara Village, nestled high up in the Yatsugatake Wine Valley. The region is the newest of Nagano's five 'wine valleys', and vineyards here are the highest anywhere in the country, extending up to 1020 metres AMSL. Here, we'll find large diurnal temperature ranges, low rainfall, and well-draining volcanic topsoil. All these characteristics put together create some of the most beautiful terroirs we've come across, and one that's well positioned to face the challenges of a warming climate.
The Wine
Kiriko's winemaking pedigree shines through her wines, with all of them being clean and precise yet thoroughly energetic and interesting. It's remarkable that despite minimal intervention being practiced both in the vineyard and winery, Kiriko has managed to produce wines with depth without faults. The labels for all the wines are hand-drawn by Fuko and change with each vintage. Each carries with them a particular meaning gleaned either from work in the vineyards or a character associated with the wines.
