Hokkaido wine picnic event to be held for first time in 3 years

IWAMIZAWA, Hokkaido--Oenophiles are in for a tasting treat as unique wines produced by 13 wineries and vineyards in the Sorachi region will be on offer at the Sorachi Wine Picnic on Sept. 3.

It will be the first time the event has been held in three years.

"This is a rare opportunity to taste various wines in one place. We hope everyone can visit and taste the charms of Sorachi wines," said Takemi Kurauchi, 76, president of Housui Winery Co.

The rain-or-shine event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at various venues in front of Iwamizawa Station.

Tickets can be purchased at the Iwamizawa Tourism Association and elsewhere.

The region is famed as the second-largest wine grape production area in Hokkaido, next to the Shiribeshi region, which includes Yoichi.

Wine producers launched the wine-drinking event in 2012 to raise their profile.

Offering rare wines from small-size wineries, along with local delicacies, the event has attracted attention from wine lovers in and outside Hokkaido.

But it has been canceled the past two years due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

This year, Kurisawa Wines Kondo Vineyard in Iwamizawa, Miyamoto Vineyard in Mikasa and other wineries will serve their wines.

Housui Winery sales have sharply declined in the past two years due to the cancellation of sightseeing bus tours, according to Kurauchi, who founded the winery 19 years ago in Iwamizawa.

Other wine producers have also faced hardships.