Kenji Ishikawa – Aperture Farm (Nagano Prefecture)

Kenji Ishikawa established Aperture Farm in Nagano as a creative space for experimentation in natural viticulture and fermentation. A former photographer, Ishikawa approaches winemaking as a visual artist might—attentive to light, rhythm, and emotion.
His small plots are cultivated without synthetic chemicals, and each harvest is vinified separately to highlight subtle differences in soil and aspect. Fermentations are spontaneous, and wines are aged in clay, enamel, or glass to preserve delicacy and energy.
Aperture Farm’s wines are vibrant, textural, and slightly unconventional—often blending native and European varieties. Ishikawa’s poetic approach has attracted a following among Japan’s new generation of artisanal natural wine enthusiasts.

Ryo Tanabe and Aperture Farm 📸🍇

Aperture Farm and Winery is located in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture, in the Chikuma River Wine Valley, a region known for its cool, dry climate and high-altitude vineyards (600–800m above sea level).

The Winemaker

  • Name: Ryo Tanabe

  • Background: Tanabe studied photography in the USA, and the name "Aperture" comes from the camera term,reflecting his artistic perspective. He gained experience working for a trading company and a liquor shop before starting the farm.

  • Timeline: He moved to Tomi in 2010 with the intent of starting a winery, began by cultivating organic vegetables,and opened his own winery in August 2022.

Winemaking Philosophy

Tanabe's philosophy centers on minimal intervention and viticulture-first principles:

  • Grapes First: He believes 80-90% of a wine's taste is determined in the vineyard. He focuses intensely on creating an optimal growing environment, often experimenting with techniques like growing grapes under umbrellas to manage rain exposure, which adds a beneficial stress to the grapes.

  • Natural Wine: The wines are made with wild yeasts and as little sulfites as possible.

  • Organic/Bio-Friendly: The vineyards are cultivated in an "extremely bio-friendly way," using only Bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate and lime) and avoiding chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. He practices recycling-oriented agriculture by returning crushed grape pomace and cut grass to the vineyard as fertilizer.

Key Grapes

Aperture Farm grows both international and local varieties suited to the cool Nagano climate:

  • Chenin Blanc: Tanabe has a notable passion for this variety, which is difficult to grow in Japan. His low-production Chenin Blanc is highly concentrated and sought after.

  • Kyoho: He has a special commitment to this traditional Japanese table grape, taking over fields abandoned by other farmers to prove it can be made into "a solid, authentic wine."

  • European Varieties: Plantings also include classic European grapes like Merlot and Cabernet Franc.