New World Character

Shigeyuki Kusunoki, director of Kusunoki Winery in Nagano, Japan, believes the delicate style of Japanese Merlot makes it a perfect pairing with the elegant flavours of Japanese food

- Lin Weiwen

 Kusunoki Winery is located in the mountainous region of Nagano, an 80-minute bullet train ride from Tokyo. The winery is known for making wines out of European grape varieties like merlot, pinot noir and cabernet franc. It is helmed by Shigeyuki Kusunoki, who made his debut in the wine industry after a mid-life career switch.

I was based in Singapore, working in the aviation industry between 1991 and 1999. Then I was reassigned to Japan. I was 40 years old at the time, and I was wondering what I should do with the rest of my life. I wanted to create something with my hands, to make a product that can be appreciated by many. As I have always enjoyed drinking French wine, I decided to go into winemaking. In 2000, I left my job and returned to Suzaka, my hometown in Nagano, to pursue this dream.