FAM TRIP

EDEL WEIN is located at the foot of Mt. Hayachine,in the center of Iwate Prefecture. Founded in 1962, it will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2022, making it the oldest and largest winery in Iwate Prefecture.

Based on the strong belief that "good wine can only be made from good grapes", we are particular about using grapes grown in Iwate Prefecture. We aim to produce high-quality wine with the premium quality grapes grown in the favorable climate of Iwate Prefecture.

The name of the winery comes from the fact that Hayachine Usuyukisou (scientific name: Leontopodium hayachinense), which grows in Mt. Hayachine in Osako-cho, is a sister flower of the famous flower of the European Alps, Edelweiss. The name Edelweiss derived from the name of the flower, Edelweiss and “EDEL WEIN” is written in German.

They use grapes grown in their own vineyards as well as contracted farmers in Hanamaki Osako and Shiwa towns. With an annual production of estimated 400,000 bottles, it is said to be one of the largest wineries in Japan.

White wines are Riesling Lion, Muller Thurgau and Niagara. Red wines are mostly German varieties such as Zweigeltrebe, Merlot and Campbell Early. It is noteworthy that 'Riesling Rion', a cultivar unique to Iwate is a cross between German white wine 'Riesling' and Japan's 'Koshu Sanjaku'. More than 90% of the grapes grown in Japan are grown in Iwate Prefecture, most of which are made here at Edelwein. A grape that represents the winery.

“Riesling Rion is a white wine variety that is very well suited to the climate and soil of this region. Grapes that are suitable for the soil produce vines do not require too much human intervention whereas grapes that are unsuitable for soil produce take a lot of time and effort and are not cost effective. I don't want to make that kind of unworthy wine," said brewer Yuji Yujikawa.

Iwate’s famous red wine is Zweigeltrebe, but because the grapes are so tightly packed, the process of removing the grapes is crucial. The more effort you put into the grapes, the more delicious the wine will be. In our opinion EDEL WEIN's Zwei exceeds the quality of authentic German quality wine. Both Riesling Lion and Zwei have won several awards at wine competitions both in Japan and overseas, it shows and proves the high quality of their wines.

After a tour at the brewery, we went to a direct sales store next to the winery for a tasting. Seeing Osako's wines lined up on the counter enhances our expectations and we can't wait to taste them. It was interesting to compare the 2021 and 2020 vintages of EDEL WEIN's flagship wine, Satsuki Nagane, made from 100% Riesling Rion. In 2020, the grapes were in good condition and the acidity was mild due to the progress of aging, making it a very well-balanced and elegant wine.

At the restaurant "Berndorf" near the winery, you can enjoy the store-limited draft wine (Niagara white and Campbell red) for just 100 yen. In addition, you can taste EDEL WEIN and dishes using plenty of local ingredients, and the restaurant was packed with many tourists.

EDEL WEIN continues to produce high-quality wines that are created by the climate of Iwate and the passion of the producers. With a history of 60 years, it has become a symbol of the town, and is a world-class Japanese winery.

Reservations for winery tours are also accepted, so if you had the chance to visit Iwate Prefecture, it would be fun to visit and taste the wine that truly reflects the passion of Iwate Prefecture and the people.