Description
Backordered copies ship within 7–10 days.
Delivery times vary internationally and depend on local carriers/customs.
A comprehensive guide to Japanese Wine covering every region of Japan from Hokkaidō to Okinawa.
Learn about the history of wine in Japan, the geography and climate, the viticultural challenges and some unique local solutions.
Including over:
- 720 producers
- 130 grapes (82 of which are unique to Japan)
- 380 bars, restaurants and wine stores specialising in Japanese Wine
- 125 Japanese Wine fairs and festivals
- 115 cheese producers and some unique Japanese cheese
- 100 photos
- 65 maps
- 38 Japanese wineries and winemakers around the world
- 20 foreign winemakers in Japan
Plus suggested itineraries in the major wine regions (Hokkaidō, Yamanashi, Nagano, Yamagata and Ōsaka)
The ideal resource to:
-
- Understand all about Japanese Wine
- Locate producers of specific styles (premium, natural, traditional, off-piste)
- Find wineries that are open to the pubic, offer tastings, have great views, restaurants or accommodation
- Find wine bars and restaurants serving a range of Japanese Wines
- Read about the major historical figures and modern heroes of Japanese Wine
- Learn about the amazing women making wine in Japan, including superhero single mother
Includes a bonus chapter on the Japanese language and key characters.
Gain a Stain!
Customise your copy with a bespoke wine stain, drawn from one of the iconic wines or wineries featuring in the book.
Each stain is inspired by the Wine Fogg logo, creating a unique mark that connects your edition to the stories within.
All samples come directly from the author’s private collection, care of a Coravin, and will be carefully applied by hand, to order.
Wine splodge options:
| Wine | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Château Mercian Shiojiri Merlot 2019 | Nagano | From the iconic producer who established Nagano’s reputation with Merlot |
| Domaine Sogga (Obusé Winery) Pinot Noir 2021 | Nagano | Produced by the iconic Usuke Boy, Akihiko Soga (Takahiko Soga’s older brother) |
| Takahiko Soga Yoichi‑Nobori O‑Lie 2020C | Hokkaidō | Passetoutgrain (Pinot Noir + Zweigelt) from Yoichi’s most iconic producer |
| Chitose Winery Kimura Pinot Noir 2023 | Hokkaidō | From the iconic Kimura Vineyard, the first and oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in Japan |
| Furano Wine Higuma no Banshaku 2022 | Hokkaidō | From the rare Japanese hybrid grape Furano #2 (Siebel 13053 x Yamabudō) grown exclusively by Furano Wine |
| Tokachi Wine Kiyomi 2021 | Hokkaidō | From rare the rare Kiyomi hybrid, a clone selection of Siebel 13053 (aka “Cascade”) selected by the winery |
Leigh Dryden –
For those like minded people like me who are looking to constantly improve our knowledge of the world of wine here is a new book that must be in your wine library.
Authored by Nick Rowan his book entitled simply Japanese Wine is bound to become a seminal insight into the state of Japanese wine. This insight has long been overdue as few books have been written about Japanese and even fewer are available in English.
Japanese wine is on the cusp of greatness and the industry is one that pays homage to the past and respects the impact of the future, I know that this book will be a great resource for me when I am back in Japan next April.
Nick all I can say is thank you for your wonderful contribution to my knowledge of wine……btw this book is available on Amazon and in a demand printing format.
Originally reviewed on LinkedIn by Leigh Dryden, Wholesale Sales Manager Matt Atallah Wines.
http://www.decantethis.com
Reproduced with permission from Leigh, along with his kind private notes:
“Hi Nick just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your new book on Japanese wine, this type of insight has been a long time coming and you have nailed it.”
“What a fantastic and detailed insight you have created“
Gotthilf Sik –
This book is nothing short of outstanding, comprehensively and meticulously researched guide to Japanese grape wine.
From history and terroir to grape varieties, producers, regional distinctions, and winemaking philosophy, every chapter is richly detailed and thoughtfully organised.
The writing is accessible and engaging for both wine professionals and curious enthusiasts.
Complex topics—such as Japan’s unique climate challenges, viticultural techniques, and regulatory landscape—are explained with precision and nuance, without ever becoming overwhelming.
The regional breakdowns are especially impressive, offering deep insight into areas like Yamanashi, Hokkaido, Nagano, while also highlighting individual producers.
Highly recommended.
Originally reviewed on Amazon for the paperback version (identical content) by Gotti.
Keita Woj –
What can I say: this is the most comprehensive book on Japanese wine in any language available at the moment, and I personally doubt that it will be surpassed in the near future, and if so, most likely it will be in Japanese.
Where can I start: Japanese grape varieties, 82 of them plus more international ones grown there. Wineries, over 700 plus wineries world wide with Japanese owners or winemakers.
The book is both practical, especially if planning a wine trip to Japan, but also caters to wine nerds interested in viticultural practices, which are influenced by Japan’s unique climate.
The only drawback, for me, the font size is smallish, as there is just so much info that would otherwise make this an unwieldy book I’d suppose.
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Keita Woj.
Unicorn Wines –
Without a doubt, an essential book for understanding Japanese wines. Educational and full of valuable information. It has been a real pleasure to learn more about such a fascinating subject. Thank you, Nick! Great work.
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Unicorn Wines, Spain
Paul Travers –
Absolutely the most thoroughly researched book on wine in Japan! I’ve traveled to Japan many, many times over more than 40 years and have visited wineries in Nagano, Tochigi and Hokkaido, but this book greatly enhanced my understanding and knowledge of Japanese wines. A must read if you have any interest at all in Japan, wine but especially in Japanese wine!
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Paul Travers of Nippon Naturals wine importer, USA
Noriyuki Oka –
I work in the import, wholesale, and retail of Japanese wine in Europe, and this book is an excellent resource.
It offers comprehensive coverage of wineries, and I especially appreciate that it also helps you find places where you can actually drink Japanese wine.
When I temporarily return to Japan and visit wineries, I use this book to discover new producers. It’s extremely practical and has been a huge help in my work.
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Noriyuki Oka of Gubi Gubi wine importer, Netherlands
Dr Stephen A Cropper –
Japanese culture is gradually making its way into the western mainstream, sometimes on its own terms (sumo, manga) and sometimes by taking on western modes.
Japanese whisky – known. But wine – sake, plum.
Serious wine, fine wine – from grapes and vines? But there it is. It hasn’t helped that there have been no surveys of the scene that has been quietly developing.
Until now. And then several, each doing different things. Nick Rowan is known in the wine world for his interest in documenting less-known wine regions…and grapes…and wines.
Developing his blog/guide site which presents neat introductions to the likes of Andorra, the Tortonese Hills of Piedmont and so forth (winefogg.com) might have been his training ground for this extraordinary book on Japanese Wine.
Painstakingly researched, it reflects his commitment to this still-developing cultural and material achievement that winemakers in Japan has fashioned.
He lived there for some time and so there are delightful touches, including the Japanese language section titles that mirror the English headings.
It also reflects his completist spirit.
The blurb calls it ‘comprehensive’ and it is that, for sure.
Exhaustive even. It is not just about the main region, Hokkaido, which others are now covering in detail.
It is a national stocktake.
Too much?
Not at all. There’s a strong structure to the book as a whole and to the entries, it is brilliantly produced and presented, and it’s accessible, designed to be dipped into rather than read cover to cover, with a great set of primer sections at the start and cute ‘nerd lists’ in the appendices.. For anyone curious about the food and drink culture of Japan, with wine as a focus of interest, and who needs some help with the geography, this is a really informative reference.
It’s a wine travel guide (with a sideline in cheese…). Nick says it’s the book he wished he’d had. And I’m fully in agreement.
Essential reading before and after time in Japan or for anyone interested in the way the wine world is changing.
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Dr Stephen A Cropper, UK
Diane Mulard –
Highly recommended for anyone ready to drink beyond Bordeaux… all the way to Japan.
Avis laissé en France le 6 mars 2026
Format: Relié
If you’re curious about Japanese wine—or already slightly obsessed like I am—this book is an absolute treasure.
Japanese Wine: A History, Regions, Wineries and Varieties is, quite simply, the most complete, exhaustive, and up-to-date resource on Japanese wine that I’ve come across. It dives into the history, regions, producers, and grape varieties with impressive depth, yet it remains accessible enough that you never feel lost.
What makes this book particularly valuable for anyone outside Japan is how practical it is as a learning tool. When you’re passionate about a wine region that’s geographically far away, information can be scattered, outdated, or difficult to access. This book solves that problem beautifully. It gives you the context and knowledge you need to understand the landscape of Japanese wine before you even set foot in the country.
For me, that’s incredibly exciting because it means I can prepare my future trips to Japan much more intelligently—knowing which regions matter, which wineries to look for, and how the industry is evolving.
One feature I especially appreciate is the inclusion of Japanese wine vocabulary. The book integrates Japanese terms alongside the explanations, which is brilliant. Even if you don’t speak the language (like me), learning to recognise key wine words in Japanese is hugely valuable. It makes navigating labels, wineries, and wine lists far less intimidating, and it helps bridge the cultural gap between the Japanese wine world and international readers.
In short, this book doesn’t just teach you about Japanese wine—it equips you to explore it.
Whether you’re a wine professional, a curious drinker, or someone planning a wine-focused trip to Japan, this is the kind of reference you’ll keep coming back to again and again.
Highly recommended for anyone ready to drink beyond Bordeaux… all the way to Japan.
Originally reviewed on Amazon by Diane Mulard, France