A Small Town in Japan Is Becoming a Major Wine Region
Behind the rapid growth of Japanese wine lies an unlikely hero - Bruce Gutlove, an American vintner who has been instrumental in shaping the country's modern wine industry. Gutlove, born and raised on Long Island, New York, fell in love with wine during his undergraduate studies at Cornell University and later enrolled in UC Davis, one of the world's leading institutions for viticulture and enology.
In 1989, Gutlove moved to Japan to consult for COCO Farm & Winery, a farm and winery that employed people with intellectual disabilities. He saw an opportunity to make a difference by bringing out the potential of Japanese climate and soil, which is far from ideal for producing wine. However, under his guidance, COCO Farm became an award-winning wine producer.
Gutlove's approach was unorthodox, but effective. He focused on choosing outside-the-box grape varieties and techniques that would suit Japan's unique terroir. But it wasn't just about the technical aspects; he also learned the importance of the human element in winemaking. By working with the intellectually challenged employees, Gutlove discovered that their motivation and dedication were key to producing high-quality wines.
In 2009, after two decades at COCO Farm, Gutlove left to pursue his own wine-making passion. He founded 10R Winery in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, where he built a network of superior growers. The winery became an incubator for future vintners, offering custom crush services and guidance.
Under Gutlove's leadership, many successful Japanese wineries have emerged, including Domaine Takahiko, Nakazawa Vineyard, Nobori Jozo, and Domaine Bless. Their wines are gaining international recognition, with some labels even earning accolades from world-renowned sommeliers.
Gutlove's vision for the future of Japanese wine is clear: to create a unique style that reflects Japan's terroir, aesthetics, history, and culture. He believes that this will require a new generation of winemakers who are passionate about producing quintessential Japanese wines.
As Japan continues to grow its wine industry, Gutlove's legacy serves as a reminder that success often comes from unconventional paths and innovative thinking. His story is an inspiration to anyone looking to make a difference in the world of wine.
Behind the rapid growth of Japanese wine lies an unlikely hero - Bruce Gutlove, an American vintner who has been instrumental in shaping the country's modern wine industry. Gutlove, born and raised on Long Island, New York, fell in love with wine during his undergraduate studies at Cornell University and later enrolled in UC Davis, one of the world's leading institutions for viticulture and enology.
In 1989, Gutlove moved to Japan to consult for COCO Farm & Winery, a farm and winery that employed people with intellectual disabilities. He saw an opportunity to make a difference by bringing out the potential of Japanese climate and soil, which is far from ideal for producing wine. However, under his guidance, COCO Farm became an award-winning wine producer.
Gutlove's approach was unorthodox, but effective. He focused on choosing outside-the-box grape varieties and techniques that would suit Japan's unique terroir. But it wasn't just about the technical aspects; he also learned the importance of the human element in winemaking. By working with the intellectually challenged employees, Gutlove discovered that their motivation and dedication were key to producing high-quality wines.
In 2009, after two decades at COCO Farm, Gutlove left to pursue his own wine-making passion. He founded 10R Winery in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, where he built a network of superior growers. The winery became an incubator for future vintners, offering custom crush services and guidance.
Under Gutlove's leadership, many successful Japanese wineries have emerged, including Domaine Takahiko, Nakazawa Vineyard, Nobori Jozo, and Domaine Bless. Their wines are gaining international recognition, with some labels even earning accolades from world-renowned sommeliers.
Gutlove's vision for the future of Japanese wine is clear: to create a unique style that reflects Japan's terroir, aesthetics, history, and culture. He believes that this will require a new generation of winemakers who are passionate about producing quintessential Japanese wines.
As Japan continues to grow its wine industry, Gutlove's legacy serves as a reminder that success often comes from unconventional paths and innovative thinking. His story is an inspiration to anyone looking to make a difference in the world of wine.
! It makes total sense, though - who wouldn't want to try their hand at creating something truly unique? Bruce Gutlove's approach is so refreshing - I mean, who wouldn't want to work with people with intellectual disabilities and make a difference in that way? 
It just goes to show that there are different ways of doing things, and sometimes the most unconventional paths lead to the greatest success. Plus, Japan's terroir is seriously underrated - all this talk about Japanese wine is making me wanna grab a glass (or two) and taste it for myself! 
IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT SOMEONE WHO WASN'T EVEN FROM JAPAN CAME IN AND HELPED SHAPE THE COUNTRY'S WINE INDUSTRY INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. I MEAN, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A FARM IN TOKYO WOULD BE PRODUCING SOME OF THE BEST WINES IN THE WORLD?!
. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that Bruce Gutlove has been instrumental in growing the industry, but 20 years ago I could've just said it was a novelty and laughed it off 
. Now it seems like they're trying to create their own style, which is cool, but it feels like they're still playing catch-up with European wine 
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. And I love the fact that he's given a platform to people with intellectual disabilities, it's a great way to promote inclusivity and social impact 
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. I'm not saying it's bad, but I need to see some more substance behind the hype before I start drinking up 
Japan making good wine? I remember when wine was all about France, Italy, and California. But now it seems like Japan is on the rise! 
I think it's awesome that Bruce Gutlove, this American vintner dude, brought his expertise to Japan and made a difference. He's all about thinking outside the box with those weird grape varieties and stuff. And working with people with intellectual disabilities? That's just cool, man! 
It's like he found a way to make wine that's not just good for the palate but also for the soul. I'm curious to try some of these Japanese wines now. Maybe they're as good as that weird Merlot from California my grandma used to drink 
. The fact that he's focused on human element too is really cool - I mean, who wouldn't want to work with grape-obsessed people with disabilities? 
. 20+ years consulting at COCO Farm & Winery and then just quitting to do his own thing? That's not exactly a recipe for success 
. And what's with the intellectual disability angle? I get it, Gutlove wanted to make a difference, but did he really need to highlight that aspect of his work? It feels like he's more famous for being different than for actually making good wine 
. Still, I guess if you're into that sorta thing, Japanese wine is becoming pretty cool 
.
I mean, who wouldn't want to try some Domaine Takahiko or Nakazawa Vineyard? The fact that these wineries are creating a unique style that reflects Japan's terroir and culture is super cool. It's like they're bottling the essence of Japan in a glass 
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i mean, who else tries to make a difference by working with people with intel disabilties? 