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[Image1]Today, I visited a vineyard on the mountain to experience grape picking.This time, I picked
[Image2]Today, I visited a vineyard on the mountain to experience grape picking.This time, I picked

Today, I visited a vineyard on the mountain to experience grape picking.

This time, I picked "Kagawa University R-1," a grape developed by Kagawa University specifically for winemaking and processing. It is bred from the wild grape "Ryukyu Ganev" found in Okinawa and Amami, combined with the high-quality greenhouse grape "Muscat of Alexandria." Although the grape berries weigh only about 1 gram, their skins are rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins.

I have previously picked grapes at tourist orchards, but this experience was completely different.

In tourist orchards, the grapes hang in clusters on the trellises, making them easy to pick, but the grapes for winemaking grow freely on the trellises, with branches and leaves intertwined, requiring some effort to find the clusters.

The entire vineyard is set on a slope, with drainage ditches below, so one must be careful with their steps while picking, as it is not the easy fruit-picking experience one might imagine.

After washing the picked grapes, they are sent to the factory to be juiced, beginning the journey of winemaking.

The wine made from R-1 grapes is named "Sauvageonne Savoureuse," featuring a rich color and less astringency, and is sold in the prefecture under the Kagawa University brand of wine.

Walking into the vineyard, I realized that behind a bottle of wine, there is not only the mountain scenery but also the culmination of varietal development and the hard work of farmers.

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Aug. 30, 2026
Located in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, the "Sanuki Winery" is set in the Oogushi Nature Park area on a hillside, offering views of the Seto Inland Sea and its islands. This place not only produces wine but also serves as a tourist spot to learn about the local grape industry and wine culture of Sanuki. The winery uses grapes and fruits grown in Kagawa Prefecture to make its wines, including the wine grape "Koda Noh R-1" developed by Kagawa University’s Faculty of Agriculture, showcasing a close relationship with local agriculture. In recent years, they have also introduced wines such as "Sanuki Red, Sanuki White, and Sanuki Rose," offering a range from red and white wines to rosé. In addition to wine, grape juice is also a highly recommended product. For those who do not drink alcohol, tasting the sweet flavor of the grapes themselves is a great option to bring home as a souvenir. At the Sanuki Winery, visitors can tour the actual wine production facility. From grape processing and fermentation to bottling, one can gain a close-up understanding of the wine-making process. After the tour, visitors can explore the Bussan Center, where they can purchase wine and grape juice, as well as various local Sanuki products. Current information indicates that the winery's visiting hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Tuesdays (open on national holidays). Additionally, the winery offers a "wine soft serve ice cream" that is perfect for hot seasons. The ice cream is made with grape juice as a base and includes a small amount of Sanuki wine, with an alcohol content of less than 0.01%, allowing even non-drinkers to enjoy a grape-flavored dessert with a hint of wine. The rich grape aroma combined with the cool, smooth texture makes it a delightful snack after visiting the winery. There is also an interesting story connecting Sanuki wine with local industry. In the past, a very niche product called "Sanuki Wine Beef" was introduced, where the grape pomace generated during the wine-making process was mixed into the feed for crossbred cattle. This type of beef is characterized by a higher ratio of red meat, lower fat, and tender texture, and was promoted as a specialty product of Sanuki City. In other words, the leftover grape pomace from wine production was not wasted but returned to the local industry in another form. From wine and grape juice to grape soft serve ice cream, and even the once-offered Sanuki Wine Beef, one can see how a local winery connects with agriculture, livestock, and tourism. Visiting here is not just about buying a bottle of wine, but also about experiencing the local flavor of Sanuki through factory tours, tasting grape products, and enjoying the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.