Junpei Sato – Domaine Raison (Nakafurano, Hokkaido)

Junpei Sato founded Domaine Raison in Hokkaido’s Nakafurano Valley, one of Japan’s most northern viticultural areas. Trained in agriculture and fermentation science, Sato is both winemaker and farmer, managing all aspects of production.
Domaine Raison grows cold-resistant varieties such as Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, and Gewürztraminer under organic principles. The estate also integrates sustainable livestock and crop cycles to maintain soil vitality.
Fermentations are spontaneous, and wines are aged in a mix of stainless steel and old oak. Sato’s wines are elegant and clean, with bright acidity and subtle minerality that echo Hokkaido’s alpine climate.
His integrated approach to agriculture and wine has made Domaine Raison a model for ecological resilience and craftsmanship in northern Japan.

Domaine Raison Overview

  • Location: Nakafurano (part of the Furano area), Hokkaido, Japan.

  • Establishment: Founded in June 2019.

  • Representative Director (President): Hiroshi Kiyokawa (according to the company profile).

  • Vineyards: The winery owns approximately 40 hectares of vineyards in the Nakafurano/Furano area.

Winemaking Philosophy: "The Winery Made With Goats" 🐐

The core philosophy of Domaine Raison is sustainability and creating a harmonious environment where humans and nature coexist. They actively practice a self-sustaining energy cycle:

  • Goat Farming: They keep goats in the vineyards. The goats eat the grass, and their waste is used as compost to return nutrients to the soil.

  • Sustainable Cycle: This process—where goats manage the groundcover and provide natural fertilizer for the grapes grown in that same soil—is central to their operations and minimizes their environmental impact.

  • Minimal Intervention: In the cellar, they aim to apply the minimum necessary intervention to maximize the unique characteristics of the 10 different grape varieties they cultivate, ensuring the wines reflect the cool-climate terroir of Hokkaido.

Key Grape Varieties and Wine Style

Domaine Raison grows about 10 different grape varieties and uses the cool climate of Nakafurano to produce high-quality wines with excellent acidity. Key varieties and wine characteristics include:

  • Müller Thurgau: Often produced as a white wine with low-temperature fermentation to create an elegant, dry taste with aromas of green apple and lemongrass.

  • Chardonnay: Produced to express the rich fruit flavors and integrated oak, balanced by the lively acidity typical of the cool Nakafurano climate.

  • Sauvignon Blanc: A white wine known for its sharp acidity and aromas of lime and fresh-cut grass, reflecting the region's chilly conditions.

  • Kerner: Used to produce white wine, and sometimes a rare, high-quality noble rot (Kifu) sweet wine.

  • They also produce sparkling wine using their own grapes, known for a refreshing, citrus-like aroma and balanced acidity.