池田町ブドウ・ブドウ酒研究所, Winery and research institute in Ikeda, Japan
This is a research institute and winery dedicated to growing and making wine while offering insights into its work to visitors. The facility has modern equipment for testing grape varieties and producing wine, along with areas where guests can learn about the entire process.
The facility was founded in 1964 as Japan's first municipally-operated winery. Since then, work has focused on developing grape varieties that thrive in cold conditions.
The facility blends traditional winemaking with scientific study, showing how local grape varieties were developed for this region. Visitors can observe how research here has made wine production possible in a challenging climate.
The site sits about 15 minutes on foot from the train station and is easy to reach. Most visitors should wear comfortable shoes and plan time to explore the different areas of the facility.
Researchers here tested over 20,000 grape varieties to develop two new ones suited specifically for Hokkaido's winters. This effort shows the extreme dedication required to make wine growing possible in such harsh conditions.
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