Japanese Wine from Domaine Tetta

It’s somewhat of an oddity in Japan: the 18,000 vines of the Domaine Tetta winery, located in Okayama prefecture, grow on limey soil, which is known for adding a beautiful hint of subtlety to the harvest. The area offers some other advantages too: its geographical position, close to the mountains, and its high sunshine rate. In other words, it’s an unexpected but ideal location for wine production.

The soil is suitable for growing different grape varieties, from Chardonnay to Pinot noir. The teams use very gentle techniques and take special care during the production process, such as in ‘hose’ racking which involves decanting the wine with the help of gravity, letting it flow from one cask to another on a lower level.

The cafe-restaurant overlooks the vineyards. Designed by Masamichi Katayama from design firm Wonderwall, the building resembles a bunker from afar. But the interior, elegant and understated with its grey tones and natural wood, is in stark contrast to the exterior.