Vinexpo Daily 2018 - Preview Edition

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: ASIA
ADVERTORIAL
JAPAN’S FRENCH
CONNECTION
Exclusive Interview: Naoki Watanabe,
Executive Officer – Suntory Wine
International
Tomi no Oka
winery aging room
Having studied oenology at the University of Bordeaux
in the Institute of Vine and Wine Science, where he
obtained a Diplôme national d’oenologue (National
Oenology Diploma) in 1994, Naoki Watanabe
researched reductive characters in wine under the
supervision of Professor Denis Dubourdieu and had
training at Chateau Lagrange and Chateau de Fieuzal.
Back in Japan, Watanabe has been working with Tomi
no Oka since the 1990’s, and since April 2018, presides
R&D and general production of domestic wines as COO
of the Wine Development and Production at Suntory. So,
what is his most cherished memory from France?
My internship at Chateau Lagrange, and the collaboration with
Lafite (DBR), as well as climate-specific viticulture and winemaking.
That has influenced the current style of Tomi Red, which combines
a sensation of concentration with distinctive local characteristics of
sweetness and softness.
What creates the uniqueness of Japanese wine?
Japanese wines are not tannic. Rather, they complement food in
a well-mannered way. Generally, they tend to be softer, tender
wines, rather than strong, flamboyant ones.
What makes Tomi no Oka Winery different?
These are wines made by the winery that pioneered the making of
authentic Japanese wines. The style of Tomi Red is with a sensation
of concentration that is also naturally sweet, tender, and soft. With
Japanese Koshu grapes we also produce dry wines that combine
the fresh, lively quality of Koshu with a softness that results from the
climate at Tomi no Oka.
Please tell me your dream.
To produce wines at Tomi no Oka that bring out the distinctive
qualities of the local climate and land, and grapes even more
so than today. And move the hearts of people around the world
with our wines. To reach the point where people recognize wines
from Tomi no Oka in Yamanashi, Japan when they taste one. And
to see more Japanese wines are enjoyed by people in Asia and
around the world
Level 1 / Stand J-65
Tomi Achieves
Global Acclaim
Suntory raises Japan’s wine to
a world-class standard
Suntory’s business started with wine. The
first sale of Akadama Port Wine (now
Akadama Sweet Wine) by the company’s
founder, Shinjiro Torii in 1907, laid the
foundation for the Suntory of today. In
1936, Shinjiro joined Zenbei Kawakami,
the “father of Japanese viticulture”, in
initiating management of a vineyard in
the Tomi no Oka region of Yamanashi
Prefecture.
Operating their own vineyard and
applying consistent winemaking
methods, from the growing of
European grapes exclusively for
wine to the production and aging of
the wine itself, Suntory developed
the skills and know-how that
culminated in Tomi, a red wine
that represents Japan proudly
throughout the world. This
vineyard, spread out across
the hills of the Tomi no
Oka region of Yamanashi
Prefecture, is known today
as the Suntory Tomi no Oka
Winery.
The passion and skilled
technique of Suntory’s
viniculture experts gave birth to
Tomi no Oka Winery’s flagship
Tomi 1997, a wine that went
on to win a gold medal in
2003 at Les Citadelles du
Vin (an international wine and
spirits competition held in the
Bordeaux region of France),
an historic first for Japanese
wine. As such, Tomi no Oka Winery’s
winemaking has come to achieve world
acclaim.
In 2010, wine made with 100% domestic
grapes was positioned as “Japanese
Wine”, and the consequent releases of
the Tomi no Oka winery series and the
Japan Premium series, wines that pursue
uniquely Japanese tastes, have met
with favourable response. This was
followed by the Shiojiri Winery
series in 2017, which was also
received favourably
DISTRIBUTORS
China/Hong Kong/Macau
ASC Fine Wines.
www.asc-wines.com
Singapore
Beam Suntory Asia Pte Ltd.
www.beamsuntory.com
Level 1 / Stand J-65
18 VINEXPO DAILY / PREVIEW / THURSDAY 24 TH MAY 2018