Echigo Winery Grape Festival 2027 – Uonuma, Japan

Overview

In a region of Niigata which is perhaps better known for sake, it may come as a surprise to find a working winery. Echigo Winery produces a range of different beverages, including red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, and rosé, and they host an annual grape festival which is suitable for the entire family.

Held at the winery premises and the neighboring Yairo no Mori Park, there are plenty of enjoyable activities for all age groups, including grape picking, outdoor stage performances, and lots of food and beverages for sale. The staff at the festival are diligent in ensuring that alcohol isn’t served to anyone underage or those who are driving, so if you do plan on attending it is advisable to have a designated driver or to utilize public transportation to get to the venue.

The annual grape festival at Echigo Winery is a great way to spend an autumn weekend. Yairo no Mori Park in Urasa is a favorite for families, and it is a great place to allow the kiddos to run around while you take in the scenery. The winery is a testament to the diversification of Niigata’s agricultural products and its commitment to producing quality wines.

Echigo Winery, also known as Agricore Echigo Winery, is located in Urasa, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, an area that is part of Japan’s snow country with three meters of snow falling each winter. Despite heavy snow, the winery thrives using unique snow storage technology.

What Makes This Food Event Special

What makes the Echigo Winery Grape Festival special is its surprising location, snow country winemaking innovation, and family-friendly harvest atmosphere.

Winery in Sake Country: Many people immediately associate this part of Niigata Prefecture with sake breweries, and there are a number of them here, but there is also a winery. In a region perhaps better known for sake, it may come as surprise to find working winery. This contrast makes Echigo Winery a regional favorite and shows diversification of Niigata’s agricultural products.

Snow House Aging – Yuki Himuro: I live in one of the snowiest regions in the world, which is often called Snow Country, with three meters of snow falling each winter. There is a winery in this snowy region, Echigo Winery. It looks just like any other in appearance, but it has a yuki himuro, literally snow icehouse, simply called snow house, which is capable of holding 250 tons of snow to keep storage tanks at about 5 degrees C all year round. There are openings in winery’s roof that allows snow to accumulate in space between walls, providing insulating effect. This natural cooling allows wines to age slowly without heavy electricity use, and also creates yukimuro snow rooms where wine and food are nurtured by snow.

Over Twenty Varieties of Wine: Echigo wine offers over twenty varieties of wine, including your standard reds, whites, and sparkling options. The top three most popular options are the Kerner Grape White, the Merlot, and the Chardonnay. Visitors swear by all of the options, and festival is chance to taste them side by side.

Family Friendly Harvest Festival: Held at winery premises and neighboring Yairo no Mori Park, there are plenty of enjoyable activities for all age groups, including grape picking, outdoor stage performances, and lots of food and beverages for sale. Yairo no Mori Park features playgrounds, bubbling brooks, sprawling meadows, walking paths, and reflecting pond, making it ideal for families.

Responsible Service: The staff at festival are diligent in ensuring alcohol isn’t served to anyone underage or those who are driving, so event maintains safe, family atmosphere while still celebrating wine.

Food, Cuisine & Specialties

The cuisine is grape-focused with wine, grape products, and local Niigata foods.

Echigo Winery Wines: Echigo Winery produces a range of different beverages, including red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, and rosé. Specific popular wines include:

Kerner White: Top three most popular, aromatic white with fruity character, well-suited to local climate.

Merlot: Soft fruitiness and mild astringency, red wine that is easy to drink and pairs well with food, made from Merlot grapes grown in Minamiuonuma. Recommended with loin and short ribs.

Chardonnay: Clean, refreshing white with citrus notes.

Snow Season Wines: Special line called Snow Season, red and white, bottle. Snow Season Red is soft fruitiness and mild astringency, easy drinking. Snow Season White has refreshing aroma and clean aftertaste, dry white that complements meal, recommended with chicken, pork salt, beef tongue salt. These wines are aged in snow house at 5 degrees C all year round, giving unique smoothness.

Sparkling and Rosé: Sparkling wine made using traditional method, and rosé with light berry notes, perfect for autumn afternoon.

Grape Picking and Fresh Grapes: Festival includes grape picking in vineyards, where visitors can pick table grapes, and purchase fresh grapes, grape juice, and grape jam.

Food for Sale: Lots of food and beverages for sale include local specialties: Uonuma Koshihikari rice onigiri, hegi soba buckwheat noodles with funori seaweed, grilled meats, Satsuma-age fish cakes, and crepe shop at winery premises allowing guests to enjoy wine alongside delicious meals. Restaurant food is so yummy and reasonable price, atmosphere is so good.

Snow-Room Aged Foods: Wine and food are nurtured by snow rooms, including snow-aged vegetables and cheeses that develop sweetness.

Chefs, Restaurants & Food Vendors

The vendors are winery staff, local restaurants, and farm producers.

Agricore Echigo Winery Team: Winery staff lead wine tastings, tours explaining winemaking process from grape cultivation to fermentation and aging, and sell wines by glass and bottle. They explain snow house system and how wine production utilizing snow takes place.

Winery Restaurant and Crepe Shop: Premises also feature restaurant and crepe shop, allowing guests to enjoy wine alongside delicious meals. Restaurant offers meals pairing with wines, such as grilled chicken, pork, and beef dishes.

Yairo no Mori Park Food Stalls: Local food stalls from Minamiuonuma City set up in park, selling Uonuma Koshihikari rice dishes, yakisoba, yakitori, and sweets. These are family-run operations.

Local Farmers: Grape farmers and Niigata farmers sell fresh grapes, grape juice, jams, and other agricultural products.

Stage Performers: Outdoor stage performances include local music bands, dance groups, and children’s performances, entertaining crowd while they taste.

Food Experience

The food experience is harvest, educational, and scenic.

Grape Harvest and Wine Tasting: Grape harvesting and wine to enjoy in snow country is central theme. You can participate in grape picking, then taste wines made from same grape varieties. Learning about winemaking process from grape cultivation to fermentation and aging is part of experience. Winery is testament to diversification and commitment to producing quality wines.

Snow House Tour: You can tour yuki himuro snow icehouse capable of holding 250 tons of snow, understanding how storage tanks are kept at about 5 degrees C all year round using natural snow insulation. This eco-friendly aging method is unique to snow country.

Park Picnic: Yaironomori Park is favorite for families, great place to allow kiddos to run around while you take in scenery. Park features playgrounds, bubbling brooks, sprawling meadows, walking paths, reflecting pond and more. Adjacent to park is Agricore Echigo Winery, and large museum Ikeda Art Museum is also located within. You can buy wine and food and have picnic on meadows.

Family Activities: Plenty of enjoyable activities for all age groups include grape picking, outdoor stage performances, face painting for children, and grape juice tasting for underage visitors.

Responsible Enjoyment: Staff diligent in ensuring alcohol isn’t served to anyone underage or those who are driving, so designated driver system is encouraged. Taxis available at station, and both venues are approximately 5 minute drive away.

Tranquility Amid Nature: This winery, which provides tranquility to visitors amidst rich nature, is definitely worth visit. Atmosphere is calm with autumn leaves and grapevines.

Date & Schedule

Location: Echigo Winery and Yaironomori Park

Official Period: Mid-September 2027 (Dates TBD)

The Echigo Winery Grape Festival is held in mid-September, during grape harvest season when grapes are ripe and autumn weather is pleasant.

Typical Schedule Based on Previous Editions:

Duration: The grape festival typically runs for 2 days over a weekend, Saturday and Sunday, in mid-September, such as September 10 to 11, 2022 for 21st edition.

Daily Hours: Festival hours are typically 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day, with winery tours and grape picking starting at 10:00 AM, food and wine sales throughout day, and stage performances from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Grape Picking Hours: Grape picking usually runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with limited slots, so arriving early is recommended.

Stage Performances: Outdoor stage performances run throughout day, with local bands, dance groups, and children’s shows at regular intervals.

Wine Tasting: Wine tasting runs continuously from opening to 30 minutes before closing, with last orders around 3:30 PM.

Seasonal Note: Mid-September in Uonuma is early autumn with pleasant temperatures around 20 to 26 degrees, with autumn leaves starting and grapevines heavy with fruit.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

The venue is a winery and neighboring forest park.

Echigo Winery and Yaironomori Park – Yairo no Mori Park: The Echigo Winery and Yairo no Mori Park are situated in Urasa, Niigata Prefecture. Address is 5483-1, Urasa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata. Also known as Agricore Echigo Winery and Yaironomori Park. Yaironomori Park is adjacent to winery.

Echigo Winery Premises: Winery premises include main winery building with yuki himuro snow house, tasting room, restaurant, crepe shop, and shop selling wines and grape products. The building looks like any other winery but has special roof openings that allow snow to accumulate.

Yaironomori Park – Yairo no Mori Park: The park features playgrounds, bubbling brooks, sprawling meadows, walking paths, a reflecting pond and more. Adjacent to park is Agricore Echigo Winery, and large museum, Ikeda Art Museum, is also located within. The park is popular for families and nature walks, with forest area and open lawns.

Facilities: Winery has restrooms, tasting counters, restaurant seating, and parking. Park has restrooms, playground equipment, benches, and walking trails.

Atmosphere: The winery provides tranquility to visitors amidst rich nature. In September, grapevines are lush and park has early autumn colors.

Accessibility: Winery and park are relatively flat with paved paths, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, though some grape picking areas may be on slopes.

Getting to the Event

Getting to Echigo Winery is easy from Urasa Station.

By Train and Taxi: The Echigo Winery and Yairo no Mori Park are situated in Urasa, Niigata Prefecture. The closest station is Urasa, which is accessible via the Joetsu Shinkansen or the local JR Joetsu Line train. Taxis are available at the station, and both venues are approximately a 5 minute drive away.

From Tokyo: Take Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Urasa Station in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. From Niigata City, take Joetsu Shinkansen to Urasa, about 1 hour. From Urasa Station, take taxi 5 minutes to winery.

By Foot: Alternatively if you are comfortable walking, it is about 20 to 25 minutes on foot from the station. The walk is through quiet residential area and rice fields, pleasant in autumn.

By Car: From Kan-Etsu Expressway, take Koide Interchange or Muikamachi Interchange and follow Route 17 to Urasa, then to winery. Parking is available at winery and park, free during festival. From Urasa Station, driving is 5 minutes.

From Airport: Niigata Airport is about 2 hours by train and shinkansen to Urasa via Niigata Station.

Public Transport Advice: Staff at festival are diligent in ensuring alcohol isn’t served to anyone underage or those who are driving, so if you do plan on attending it is advisable to have designated driver or to utilize public transportation to get to venue. Joetsu Shinkansen and local train are best options if you plan to drink.

Where to Stay Nearby

Minamiuonuma City offers onsen ryokan and hotels near winery.

Near Urasa Station: Business hotels such as Hotel Route Inn Muikamachi, Muikamachi Onsen Hotel, and Urasa area guesthouses are within 5 to 10 minutes by taxi from winery. Prices $60.00 to $90.00 per night.

Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen Area: Echigo-Yuzawa, 30 minutes by train, is famous onsen and ski resort town with many ryokan and hotels from $80.00 to $200.00 per night, many with onsen baths.

Minamiuonuma Onsen: Muikamachi Onsen, Imaizumi Onsen, and other local onsen ryokan offer open-air baths with mountain views, ideal after wine tasting. Prices $90.00 to $180.00 per person including dinner with Koshihikari rice and local dishes.

Mountain View Villas: Nearby Mountain View Villas offer lodging with views of mountains and easy access to winery.

Booking Tips: Mid-September is harvest season and pleasant autumn weather, so onsen hotels are popular. Booking 2 to 4 weeks ahead is recommended. Many hotels offer festival shuttle.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Combine grape festival with wine, art, and nature.

Ikeda Art Museum: Large museum, Ikeda Art Museum, is also located within Yaironomori Park area, featuring contemporary art and beautiful building, worth visiting before or after wine tasting.

Hakkaisan Brewery and Snow Room: Visit Hakkaisan Brewery and Hakkaisan Snow Room in Minamiuonuma, where sake is aged in snow rooms similar to wine, and learn about yukimuro culture.

Uonuma Koshihikari Rice Fields: See Uonuma’s famous rice terraces and Koshihikari rice fields at harvest time in September, golden and ready for harvest.

Grape Picking and Vineyards: Beyond festival grape picking, visit other vineyards in Niigata and enjoy grape harvest experiences.

Onsen Bathing: Enjoy onsen baths at Muikamachi Onsen, Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen, and Imaizumi Onsen.

Yaironomori Park Nature Walks: Enjoy walking paths, reflecting pond, bubbling brooks, and playgrounds in park, especially beautiful in early autumn.

Restaurants & Local Food to Try

Beyond festival, Uonuma offers exceptional foods paired with wine.

Winery Restaurant: At Agricore Echigo Winery, restaurant food is so yummy and reasonable price. Atmosphere is so good. Try dishes paired with Kerner white, Merlot, and Chardonnay, such as grilled chicken, pork, beef tongue salt, loin, short ribs, and offal. Meals $10.00 to $20.00.

Crepe Shop: Crepe shop at winery offers sweet and savory crepes that pair well with sparkling wine and rosé.

Koshihikari Rice: Try freshly cooked Uonuma Koshihikari rice at local restaurants, considered Japan’s best rice, for $8.00 to $12.00 with side dishes.

Hegi Soba: Hegi soba is buckwheat noodles infused with funori seaweed, specialty of Uonuma area, served cold with dipping sauce, $7.00 to $11.00.

Snow-Aged Foods: Try snow-aged vegetables and meats from yukimuro snow rooms, developing sweetness, and Hakkaisan Snow Room products.

Sake and Beer: Try local sake from Hakkaisan Brewery and other Uonuma breweries, and local craft beer.

Dietary & Food Allergy Information

Grape festival is relatively allergen-friendly but wine contains alcohol and sulfites.

Allergen Information: Wine contains sulfites, grapes, and alcohol. Some wines may contain traces of egg or milk used in fining. Food stalls may contain wheat in crepes and soba, soy in miso, and pork and chicken in grilled dishes.

Gluten: Wine itself is gluten-free. Crepes contain wheat. Hegi soba contains buckwheat but may contain wheat. Ask vendors.

Vegetarian and Vegan: Many grape products, grape juice, and some food stalls offer vegetarian options like Koshihikari rice and salads. Wine may not be vegan due to fining agents. Ask winery about vegan-friendly wines.

Halal: Halal options limited as wine contains alcohol. Grape juice and some foods may be halal-friendly but check.

Language Support: Menus primarily in Japanese with some English. Winery staff speak basic English about wines. Translation apps help.

Ticket Information

The Echigo Winery Grape Festival is free to enter with pay-as-you-go for wine and food.

Admission: Entry to Echigo Winery premises and Yaironomori Park is free. No tickets required for entry to festival grounds.

Wine and Food Pricing Based on Previous Editions:

Wine Tasting: Wine tasting by glass typically $3.00 to $6.00 per glass based on 500 to 1,000 yen, with tasting sets of 3 wines for $8.00 to $12.00. Bottles for purchase range from $15.00 to $45.00 depending on variety, with Snow Season wines around $44.00 per bottle based on 6,600 yen tax included.

Grape Picking: Grape picking experience around $5.00 to $10.00 per person based on 800 to 1,500 yen, including bunch of grapes to take home.

Food: Restaurant meals $10.00 to $20.00, crepes $4.00 to $7.00, onigiri $2.00 to $3.00, hegi soba $6.00 to $10.00.

Activities: Stage performances and park entry free. Some children’s activities may charge small fee $1.00 to $3.00.

Payment: Winery shop and restaurant accept cash and credit cards. Food stalls in park cash only, some accept IC cards like Suica. Bring cash in small bills.

No Reservation Needed: No reservation needed for general entry and wine tasting, but grape picking may require reservations on day due to limited slots.

Official Event Information

Event Name: Echigo Winery Grape Festival, also known as Grape Harvest and Wine Festival and Budou Matsuri

Location: Echigo Winery and Yaironomori Park, also known as Yairo no Mori Park, Agricore Echigo Winery, 5483-1, Urasa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata, Japan

Access: Closest station Urasa accessible via Joetsu Shinkansen or local JR Joetsu Line train, taxis available at station 5 minute drive away, alternatively 20 to 25 minutes on foot from station

Format: 2-day outdoor grape harvest festival at winery premises and neighboring park with grape picking, outdoor stage performances, wine tasting, and food and beverages for sale, suitable for entire family

Organizer: Agricore Echigo Winery, Yaironomori Park Management, and Minamiuonuma City Tourism Association

Official Website URL as Text: en.japantravel.com/niigata/echigo-winery-grape-festival/47118 and echigowinery.com/publics/index/51/

Additional Official Information as Text: city-cost.com for autumn events in Minamiuonuma and discover-niigata.com for Yaironomori Park information

Contact: Echigo Winery via official website echigowinery.com and Yaironomori Park Management

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