SAITAMA

Musashi Winery

Natural red wine made in Saitama

Musashi makes wines using natural yeast and pesticide-free grapes cultivated on reclaimed farmland in Ogawamachi.

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A permaculture labor of love

Musashi Winery is a labor of love founded by Yuzo Fukushima, who began training in organic farming in 2010. By 2011 he was growing ”Shokoshi” grapes on reclaimed abandoned farmland in Ogawamachi, Saitama. While he was starting his agricultural training, he also learned sake brewing at the Musashitsuru sake brewery in Ogawamachi, a rare brewer that produces both natural wine and pure rice sake. Fukushima was Musashitsuru’s chief brewer in 2015, until the brewery ceased its operations.

Musashi’s organic wines are made without using any pesticides, fertilizer, Bordeaux mixture, and without adding sugar or acid during the fermentation process. Since June 2023, Musashi Winery has managed 11 vineyards in Ogawamachi. Grape varieties including their original Little Prince, planted every year since 2011, as well as Merlot, Yama Sauvignon, Petit Manseng, Chardonnay, Delaware, Petit Verdot, Albariño, and Semillon.

A sustainable winery

The winery building itself was completed in 2019, using local timber from Tokigawa and Chichibu in Saitama prefecture. It also sourced traditional sake brewery materials, such as earthen walls and plaster, which were crafted by local builders and artisans to create a warm, local feel. The Musashi Winery is a sustainable and ecological building that generates almost all of its own energy. The products sold in the winery’s store are mostly additive-free, focusing on food mileage and local production for local consumption, including locally grown organic vegetables, locally made natural yeast bread, prepared foods, and processed products.