Wine

The first private winery in the nation, Japan Yamanashi Wine Company, was established in 1877 in Katsunuma. The company's early efforts to produce good wine included the dispatch of two young men, Takano and Tsuchiya, to Beaune, France, to study wine-making. There are currently over 30 wineries competing in the area and together they account for 25% of Japanese wine production. The flinty and refreshing dry white wine made from Koshu grapes goes great with both Japanese sofisticated cuisine and home cooked meal.