JLGC staff supported and attended a delegation from Yamanashi Prefecture, in London for the promotion of the region’s Koshu wine in the UK and European market, at a London event on 21 February.
The Koshu variety of grape is native to Japan, and was developed from grapes that were introduced after travelling the Silk Road through Central Asia, from Europe via China before finding their way to Japan over one thousand years ago
Yamanashi Prefecture, formerly known as Koshu Province, is famous throughout Japan for its Koshu grapes, with growing awareness throughout the world. The climate of the prefecture is perfect for the cultivation of grape vines with long sunny days and cold nights at an altitude perfect for growing grapes with a high sugar content, and its volcanic soil highly suitable for vineyards due to Mount Fuji erupting in ancient times.
Yamanashi Prefecture stands at the foot of Mount Fuji and is surrounded by a mountain range some 3000 metres, and is an hour and a half from central Tokyo by train. The region is growing in popularity with beautiful natural heritage, popular for day trippers traveling to the prefecture to pick a wide variety of fruits which it is famous for such as peaches and cherries, as well as a growing wine tourism industry.
Kofu City within the prefecture is known to have had locals making wine as far back as 1874, with the first winery being established in Iwai-mura in 1879, now Katsunuma-cho within Koshu City in the north of Yamanashi, about 70 miles west of Tokyo. After sending staff to France to learn about wine production, The Dainippon Wine Company Ltd. was established for the growing of grapes for making wine, with the company refining their processes over the years; by the end of World War II wine production had increased to 80 wineries throughout Yamanashi Prefecture.
JLGC London supports the marketing and promotion of Japan’s regional and city economies and products at various events throughout the year in the UK and EU.
For more information on Koshu Wines, and the KOJ Search for UK Brand Ambassador 2013 Campaign see here
See here for more information on the Prefectural Government and for tourist information on the region see here
Picture: Yamanashi Prefecture staff and wine producers visit Director Hanyu (right) at JLGC London office
