Renovations at Manns Wine Komoro Winery
October 1, 2013
Kikkoman has introduced new tastes to the world through the traditional Japanese seasoning of soy sauce, and has delivered new flavor experiences to Japan as well, including wines produced by Manns Wine Co., Ltd., a member of the Kikkoman Group. One of the Manns Wine's wineries, the Komoro Winery, is located in the city of Komoro in eastern Nagano Prefecture, which has an ideal climate for viniculture.
The Manns Wine premium SOLARIS series evolved from the desire to produce a great wine using 100% domestically grown grapes that would compare with renowned wines from around the world. It is made mainly at the Komoro Winery. To produce the best wine in Japan, with its high rainfall, the company concentrated not only on grape variety, but also on where and how the grapes were grown, harvest amount and wine-making techniques. The name SOLARIS refers to the Latin word for "sun" and, as seen in the Manns Wine logo, grapes are regarded as gifts of the sun. The SOLARIS name symbolizes the Manns Wine stance on quality; that is, to make wines using only the highest-quality grapes. Manns Wines are highly acclaimed not only in Japan, but around the world, and have won numerous awards in global wine contests.
At the Komoro Winery is a 3,000-tsubo (about 10,000m2) Japanese garden, Bansuien, created over the span of nearly a decade. The garden's name reflects the winery's wish that everyone (ban) be captivated (sui) by the beauty of this garden (en), and be elated (sui) by the taste of its wines. Bansuien features some 170 plant species, including a century-old Zenkoji grapevine, which traces its origins to one of Japan's most famous temples. Visitors can enjoy a variety of different views and experience the seasonal wonders of a Japanese garden.
Situated within Bansuien, the winery's authentic Japanese tearoom (chashitsu) and its underground wine cellar, both used to welcome special guests, were recently renovated. The winery updated the tearoom while still retaining much of its original appearance and provided chairs and tables to accommodate those guests unaccustomed to sitting with folded legs in comfort. As the tearoom is part of the winery, grape motifs were integrated into its decor.
Rather than imitate a traditional European cellar, Komoro's new underground cellar is modern and subtle with a Japanese design. Great care has gone into lighting placement and illumination to provide greater focus on the wines themselves; in its exclusive tasting room, chandeliers designed as grape clusters project shapes of the fruit onto the walls.
Komoro Winery embodies Kikkoman's hope to produce the highest-quality wine and deliver a taste experience transmitted through a delicate blend of Western culture and Japanese tradition. With its premium Japanese wines and beautiful Japanese garden, the winery is set to usher in the season of nouveau.