Nagoya machinery maker to start making wine in Kenbuchi, Hokkaido

Makitec, an industrial machinery maker headquartered in Nagoya, has started making wine in Kenbuchi (Kenbuchi-cho), a town in northern Hokkaido. On 28 May 2026, vine seedlings for wine grapes were planted in a field overlooking Lake Sakuraoka in the town. About 100 people, including local residents, took part, planting the seedlings while looking forward to the day the wine is ready. The company aims to open a winery in the town.

A machinery maker making wine from the vineyard up

The town’s mayor, Nishioka, and Makitec’s president, Ono, also joined the planting and put seedlings into the ground alongside the residents. What marks this plan out is that a company from an industry unrelated to wine intends to handle everything itself, from growing the grapes to opening a winery. However, details such as which grape varieties will be planted, the scale of production and when the first wine will be released cannot be confirmed from the reports available this time. In general, it takes several years before planted vines yield wine grapes reliably. It will be some time before the results of this project become clear.

A growing wine region in cool Hokkaido

Hokkaido is a large island at the northern tip of Japan, with cool summers and heavy snowfall in winter. It is a region attracting growing attention in Japan as a new wine-producing area. In 2018, the geographical indication (GI) “Hokkaido” was also recognised for wine. Kenbuchi lies inland in Hokkaido, north of the city of Asahikawa, and has harsh winters. In the same month as the Kenbuchi planting, May, the Hokkaido Shimbun also reported on trial cultivation of wine grapes in Mikasa and on the first release of a wine made with Asahikawa-grown grapes. Across Hokkaido, efforts continue to develop wine into a new regional industry.

What European readers may want to watch

Wine from Kenbuchi is still some way from reaching Europe, but Hokkaido wines can occasionally be found at some importers and Japanese food shops. When choosing a bottle, look for the “Japan Wine” designation on the label. It is used for wine made in Japan exclusively from grapes grown in Japan. In Hokkaido, many varieties familiar from Germany and Austria are grown, such as Kerner, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir. It could be interesting to compare their crisp, acidic wines, typical of a cool region, with wines of the same varieties from Europe. It will also be worth following future news on when the Kenbuchi winery opens and which varieties it chooses.