Takayuki Tada – Tada Winery (Nagano Prefecture)

Takayuki Tada founded Tada Winery in Nagano with a simple goal: to craft pure, unadorned wines that speak clearly of their mountain origins. After studying agriculture and apprenticing at several Japanese wineries, Tada chose to work with a small number of carefully farmed plots, focusing on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Delaware.
The vineyards are managed organically with minimal tilling and natural composts, and fermentations occur spontaneously with native yeasts. Sulfur is used sparingly, if at all.
Tada’s wines are quiet but expressive, balancing delicate aromatics with firm minerality. His commitment to restraint and transparency places him among Nagano’s most thoughtful small-scale natural winemakers.

Tada Winery (Tada Farm) Overview

  • Correct Location: Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture (not Nagano).

  • Key Figure: Shigeo Tada is the Owner/Representative, while Shinichi Sugai is listed as the Winemaker/Tōji.

  • Establishment: Tada Farm began cultivating grapes, starting with Pinot Noir, in 2007. The winery established its own production facility in 2016.

  • Environment: The winery operates in a particularly harsh, cold climate in Hokkaido, with midwinter temperatures approaching −30∘C (−22∘F).

Winemaking Philosophy (Natural Wine Focus)

Tada Winery focuses on minimal intervention and natural winemaking to allow the unique terroir of their harsh Hokkaido environment to be fully expressed in the wine.

  • Wild Yeast Fermentation: They exclusively use wild yeast (found on the grape skins and in the air) for fermentation. This is a high-risk method that imparts a distinctive character, allowing you to "feel the land itself."

  • Minimal Intervention in Cellar: The wines are made with minimal use of sulfur dioxide and are often unfiltered.

  • Sustainable Viticulture: Grapes are grown without the use of herbicides or chemical fertilizers. They rely on manual weeding and careful use of minimal pesticides, with trials ongoing for pesticide-free cultivation (especially for Pinot Noir).

  • Facility: The winery is set up in a renovated 50-year-old former onion storage facility, utilizing the existing natural environment for temperature control.

Key Grape Varieties and Wines

Tada Winery is one of the pioneering producers in Hokkaido that successfully cultivates classic European Vitis viniferavarieties in the cold climate.