Energizing Hokkaido with the power of wine! Bankei Pass Winery Hokkaido Lab ~A Hokkaido travel guide to enjoy gourmet food, nature, and culture~

Energizing Hokkaido with the power of wine! Bankei Pass Winery

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: Last updated: September 19, 2019

Table of contents

1. The commitment of "Bankei Pass Winery"

2. Reasons why going on the weekend is recommended

3. Homemade bread and homemade cheese

Shuji Tamura, owner of the Bankei Pass Winery "Bankei Pass Winery" was established in 2001 as the first winery in Hokkaido.

Currently, there are over 20 wineries in Hokkaido, but back then, there were only a few large wineries.

"Because there was no precedent, it was a continuous struggle," says brewer Tamura.

This time, we interviewed Shuji Tamura, the winemaker at "Bankei Pass Winery."

<Table of Contents>
1. The commitment of "Bankei Pass Winery"
2. Reasons why going on the weekend is recommended
3. Homemade bread and homemade cheese
4. Conclusion

1. The commitment of "Bankei Pass Winery"

Bankei Pass Winery Entrance
Located about 15 minutes by car from the center of Sapporo, "Bankei Pass Winery" is nestled quietly in the Bankei Mountains.

The winery is run by winemaker Shuji Tamura, who wants to establish a wine culture in the region.

All the grapes used in the wine are from Hokkaido.
We are committed to making additive-free wine using grapes harvested from our own vineyards.

Some people may have the impression that fruits used for processing into wine and juice are often off-grade or those that have fallen from the trees due to typhoons.

However, this winery does not use fruit that has fallen from the tree.

The reason is that if soil gets on the fruit, it will oxidize. They are extremely particular about the quality of their wine.

2. Reasons why going on the weekend is recommended

Bankei Pass Winery Wine Shop "Bankei Pass Winery" offers a style where you can choose your products while tasting them at a small table in front of the entrance.

In addition to wine tastings, homemade cheeses and bread are also available, so you can choose while considering how well they pair with your meal.

Bankei Pass Winery Terrace Cafe Also, a tea house at the mountain pass will be open on weekends only.

At the terrace cafe attached to the winery, you can enjoy French-style pizzas and cakes made with ingredients from Hokkaido, along with wine.

Enjoying wine while overlooking the vineyards is an exquisite experience! If you're going to go, why not aim for the weekend?

3. Homemade bread and homemade cheese

Homemade cheese made at the Bankei Pass winery's cheese factory.
The bread, made with Haruyutaka wheat from Hokkaido, is a homemade treat that the owner's wife is very proud of.

His wife had been paying attention to Haruyutaka wheat and baking bread with it long before it became widely known. She was the first to recognize the charm and deliciousness of Haruyutaka.

Please try this bread, which is made with an unwavering commitment to using Hokkaido-grown wheat.

Furthermore, the homemade cheese made in the cheese factory attached to the winery is also absolutely delicious!

"Delicious cheese can only be made with delicious milk," his wife says.

4. Conclusion

Bankei Pass Winery Sign "I want to make better use of the agricultural products that farmers work so hard to produce," says Tamura.

Why not enjoy some Hokkaido-produced bread and cheese with a glass of wine?

Wine enjoyed at a winery surrounded by nature will surely taste even better.

<Wineries at Bankei Pass>
Address: 201-4 Bankei, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
TEL：011-618-0522
Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 16:00 PM (The mountain pass teahouse is open only on Saturdays and Sundays)
URL:https://sapporo-bankei-winery.jimdo.com/

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