Eiji Okada – Sapporo Fuji Winery (Hokkaido)
Eiji Okada operates Sapporo Fuji Winery on the outskirts of Sapporo, Hokkaido. After working in the restaurant industry, he pursued winemaking to explore the connection between food, place, and fermentation.
The vineyards are managed organically, and the cool northern climate allows for slow ripening and naturally balanced acidity. Okada’s focus is on varietal purity and precision—fermenting with native yeast, avoiding filtration, and letting each parcel evolve at its own pace.
His wines are lean, mineral, and deeply expressive of Hokkaido’s volcanic soils. Okada’s work represents a modern synthesis of technical skill and natural philosophy.
Sapporo Fuji Winery is a significant and historic name in the Hokkaido winemaking region, known for its cooler climate and focus on European Vitis vinifera and cold-hardy hybrid grapes.
History and Location
Location: The winery is located in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, specifically on the eastern slopes of Mount Moiwa. This area provides excellent drainage and a favorable microclimate, which are critical in Hokkaido’s snowy environment.
Establishment: The winery has roots dating back to 1974, making it one of the early pioneers of serious viticulture in Hokkaido.
Name: The "Fuji" in the name comes from the original owner, who had a strong connection to Mount Fuji, though the winery itself is located in Sapporo.
Winemaking Focus and Grapes
Sapporo Fuji Winery capitalizes on the cold climate of Hokkaido, aiming for wines that exhibit cleanliness, crisp acidity, and elegance—characteristics often associated with cooler regions.
Primary White Grapes: The winery is highly regarded for its white wines, focusing on:
Müller-Thurgau: A German hybrid known for producing aromatic, light-bodied wines with a clean profile.
Bacchus: Another aromatic German crossing that thrives in cold climates, producing highly expressive white wines.
Kerner: Used to produce dry to off-dry white wines with complex fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.
Primary Red Grapes:
Pinot Noir: A notoriously difficult grape, but one that is showing great potential in the cool climate of Hokkaido, where it can achieve high elegance and distinct varietal character.
Zweigelt: An Austrian red variety well-suited to the region, known for its deep color and cherry-spice notes.
The winery's dedication is to capturing the unique Hokkaido terroir, often resulting in wines that draw comparisons to cooler European regions like Alsace, Germany, and Burgundy.