Ro_Vineyard
Wines made with community spirit.
Founded in 2016
Tōmi, Nagano
Varieties planted
Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Petit Manseng, Roussanne, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot (and probably a few we can't remember)
The People
Ro_Vineyard was founded by Takayuki Maezawa, originally from Kanagawa Prefecture. After developing an interest in wine in university, he spent his years after graduation travelling to various countries around the world to experience the various aspects of wine - how it was made, how it was sold, and how it was consumed by people. Maezawa-san strikes us as a community organizer - someone who recognizes the value of people, and their shared involvement in achieving something bigger than himself. When we visited Nagano during harvest, we found ourselves in the fields with him not just at his own vineyards, but also those of his peers Minakata Jozo, over two hours away in Nakagawa.
The Land
Situated higher than most vineyards in Tōmi at around 900m, Maezawa-san's vineyards receive plenty of sunshine and see higher diurnal temperature swings compared to lower-lying areas, although in recent years daytime temperatures have been creeping closer 30 deg C during harvest even at this altitude. Soils here are a mix of volcanic andosols and clay, influenced in part by the highly active Mount Asama to the north.
The Wine
Maezawa-san doesn't have a winery at the moment and thus relies on various wineries both within and outside of Tōmi to make wine, namely Arc En Vigne in Tōmi, Sail the Ship in Ueda, and Minakata Jozo in Nakagawa. Because of the cool nighttime temperatures in the vineyards, Maezawa-san's wines are always fresh and vibrant, with a distinctly aromatic character. They're highly sought after across Japan, and we're extremely honoured to have a precious few here.
