Les Vins Débrouillards

We’re tiny. Nano scale really. 1.5 hectares of organically grown grapes. 4,000 bottles produced in 2024. We will plant another 2 hectares by 2030.  If all goes according to plan, we hope to commence building our winery in early 2026 so it will be ready for vintage that autumn. Thus far, we have been lucky enough to make our wines under the kind guidance of Hirotaka Meguro at his winery, Fattoria AL Fiore, in Miyagi Prefecture. Hirotaka is a wonderful person and excellent mentor.  We're hoping he will continue to work with us as we set up the new winery and our first vintage made in it. 

Our 4 small vineyards peak at 800m elevation and are located on a west facing slope, below Mt. Hachibuse, overlooking the cities of Shiojiri & Matsumoto.  Japan's Northern Alps tower over the region, gifting us with stellar views when working in the vineyards.

Electric Stones Vineyard 2020 Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, & Albariño.   Zweigelt, Merlot & Cab Franc

Red Sheds Vineyard 2022  Pinot Gris, Savagnin, & Chardonnay 

Long Rows Vineyard 2023/24   Pinot Gris & Albariño. Merlot, Cab Franc & Syrah

Ringoshita Vineyard 2024 Chardonnay & Albariño 

Currently we are not certified organic by JA (Japan Agriculture) but are planning to pursue once all vineyards are planted sometime after 2030.  Not only would it be much easier for us workload wise to use agrochemicals, it would also increase our yields tremendously.  However, that's not part of our ethos. We eschew the use of chemicals in our sustinance garden and do the same in our vineyards because we're none too keen to consume gnarly nastiness. During the summer months the garden supplies us and our friends with delicious, chemical free vegetables. Our current wines are bottled sans soufre, however; we feel that what's more important than the use of minimal SO2 is eliminating the use chemicals, especially herbicides and pesticides, in the vineyards.  

We, along with our fur babies, Pinot Gris & Catsby, welcome folks to drop by and experience our parcel of paradise in Japan's Northern Alps of Nagano.

Kaoko & Charles  

PS 
Why débrouillards?  We love the word, its etymology, its history, and its spirit.  We feel what we're doing here in Japan, farming without chemicals, means we have to be débrouillards in order to succeed.  Perhaps we're rather Quixotic in our pursuit of chemical free grapes in such an incredibly challenging climate, but we are uncompromising in our pursuit of crafting beautiful, thought provoking wines without nasty chemicals.  Y'all drink up...in moderation of course!