Shunsuke Koyama – Domaine Hase (Nagano Prefecture)

Shunsuke Koyama founded Domaine Hase in Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan’s most dynamic wine regions. After studying viticulture and enology in Yamanashi, he worked at several small wineries before establishing his own estate with the goal of producing wines that express Nagano’s mountain terroir through natural methods.
The vineyards are farmed organically, with an emphasis on soil vitality and biodiversity. Grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Muscat Bailey A are hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. In the cellar, no additives or enzymes are used, and sulfur is kept to an absolute minimum.
Koyama’s wines are known for their clean structure, tension, and quiet intensity—qualities that reflect both the high elevation of Nagano and his measured, thoughtful approach to winemaking.

Winemaking Philosophy

Domaine Hase emphasizes a sustainable, low-intervention approach, believing that the unique natural environment of Fukuihara is the key to their wine's character.

  • Sustainable Viticulture (Hikaru Farm): The farm aims for the coexistence of the natural environment and the grapes by cultivating with the least possible burden on the environment, including the microorganisms in the soil.

  • Simple Vinification (Domaine Hase): The winery seeks to maximize the power of the grapes through natural fermentation using wild yeasts, striving for a simple winemaking style with minimal human intervention.

  • Terroir Expression: Their wines often show notes like Japanese citrus, tropical fruit, minerals, and salinity, with some developing an umami flavor akin to Japanese dashi after bottle aging.

Key Grape Varieties

Domaine Hase focuses on noble international varieties that thrive in the cool, high-altitude climate of Takayama, but also uses some local hybrids:

  • White Varieties: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc.

  • Red Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Muscat Bailey A (a Japanese hybrid variety).

Note on Shunsuke Koyama

While the user may have conflated the names, a prominent Nagano wine figure named Koyama is Hideaki Koyama, who is the founder of Rue de Vin (in the nearby city of Ueda, Nagano).

  • Project: Rue de Vin (French for "the road of wine") is a project focused on revitalizing abandoned farmland in the Shinshu Wine Valley by cultivating over 10 varieties of grapes, aiming to build a wine-centric community. This may be the Koyama the user intended to reference, as he is a foundational figure in the region's modern viticulture.