Yamagata Wine Var is a major wine event held every year in early summer in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. One of the largest wine events in the Tohoku region, it brings together wineries from Yamagata and neighboring prefectures around the Kaminoyama Onsen area, offering visitors the chance to taste a wide variety of wines in one place.
The event takes place against the backdrop of historic streets with views of Kaminoyama Castle. Visitors can enjoy wine and local food while experiencing the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring town. One particularly memorable experience is enjoying wine while dressed in a yukata, a casual traditional Japanese summer robe, with the castle as a scenic backdrop.
Yamagata Wine Var attracts wineries from a variety of regions. In 2024, 51 wineries participated, offering more than 200 different wines.
The selection includes wines made with grapes grown in Kaminoyama, as well as distinctive wines produced elsewhere in Yamagata and other parts of Japan. Wine lovers can sample popular labels and special wines prepared exclusively for the event, making it an excellent opportunity to discover bottles that may be difficult to encounter elsewhere.
Because wines differ according to grape variety, growing region, and winemaking techniques, the event makes it possible to compare many different styles in a single visit.
Moving from one winery booth to another and sampling different wines can also be a fun way to discover new flavors and find a wine that suits your personal taste.
Yamagata Wine Var is not only about wine. Numerous food stalls serve dishes designed to pair well with wine, allowing visitors to enjoy local and seasonal food while sampling wines from different producers.
The combination of wine, food, and the open atmosphere of the festival makes the event approachable for both wine beginners and experienced enthusiasts.
In addition to winery and food booths, the event features a variety of stage performances and entertainment. Visitors can enjoy the lively atmosphere while tasting wines in an open-air setting.
Free yukata dressing services may also be available for visitors who bring their own yukata. Changing into a yukata and enjoying a glass of wine while looking toward Kaminoyama Castle creates a uniquely Japanese travel experience.
Yamagata Wine Var was first held in 2014. The event was originally planned around the activities of the youth division of the Kaminoyama Onsen Ryokan Association and gradually developed into a major gathering that attracts wineries not only from Kaminoyama but also from other parts of Yamagata and neighboring prefectures.
Today, it has become one of the events that represent Kaminoyama in early summer, providing a platform for introducing the city’s wine culture and other local attractions to visitors.
The concept of Yamagata Wine Var is to remain a place where visitors can encounter wines with unique regional character.
The event is held once a year in early summer, using areas around Kaminoyama Castle and part of Toka-machi Shopping Street as venues. Visitors can walk through the hot spring town and historic streets while discovering wines from different producers.
Kaminoyama, where Yamagata Wine Var is held, has natural conditions that are well suited to growing grapes. The region generally has relatively low rainfall, many sunny slopes, and well-drained soil, all of which are favorable for grape cultivation.
Taking advantage of these conditions, local grape growers and winemakers who understand the area’s climate and land produce high-quality grapes and wines that reflect the character of Kaminoyama.
Grape cultivation in Kaminoyama takes advantage of the area’s distinctive climate and terrain. At Yamagata Wine Var, visitors can taste wines made with grapes grown in Kaminoyama, providing an opportunity to experience the connection between local agriculture and the region’s growing wine culture.
Wines from Kaminoyama have been served at international conferences and other events and have received recognition in wine competitions. Against this background, the local community has developed a range of initiatives to strengthen the region’s wine industry.
In 2014, Kaminoyama established an ordinance promoting toasts with locally produced wine. The following year, in 2015, the Kaminoyama Wine Country Project was launched.
In 2016, Kaminoyama was also designated as the “Kaminoyama Wine Special Zone” under the Japanese government’s Structural Reform Special Zone program. These initiatives have supported efforts to promote local wine as both a regional brand and an important part of the local economy.
Wines produced in Kaminoyama use a wide range of grape varieties. Representative varieties include Delaware, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Muscat Bailey A.
Other varieties used in local winemaking include Chardonnay, Niagara, Black Queen, Riesling Lion, and Petit Manseng.
Each grape variety has its own distinctive aromas and flavors. At the wine festival, visitors can compare several wines side by side and discover the different characteristics produced by each variety.
Yamagata Wine Var offers much more than an opportunity to taste wine. It brings together the history of Kaminoyama, the atmosphere of its hot spring district, and the area’s food and agricultural culture.
Visitors can explore booths from numerous wineries, search for a favorite wine, enjoy local dishes, and take in the stage entertainment. Wearing a yukata while looking toward Kaminoyama Castle and enjoying wine adds another distinctly Japanese element to the experience.
For international visitors, the festival is also an opportunity to learn about the relationship between grape cultivation, winemaking, local cuisine, hot spring culture, and regional history in Kaminoyama.
As a signature early-summer event in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Wine Var is a unique way to experience the region through its wines while discovering the historic hot spring town and the local culture that surrounds it.