WINERY FROM KATSUNUMA, YAMANASHI
Since 1890, Marufuji in Katsunuma has been combining Japanese grape varieties like Kōshū with international cellar techniques – precise, distinctive, and firmly rooted in Yamanashi.
PERSÖNLICH BESUCHT
Before we started the tour, it was a matter of trust.
When asked how I became aware of Rubaiyat, my answer was actually quite simple: After my first impressions online and learning about the winery’s long history, I really wanted to get to know these wines – and find out if I could bring them to Germany.
Our first meeting began in the lovingly renovated Kominka, the family's former home, which now houses the wine shop and office. Even before seeing the cellar and production area, we talked about how Japanese wine is perceived in Germany, what I want to build with NIPP•ON•VINO, and why Rubaiyat, in particular, should be a part of it.
During the subsequent tour, it quickly became clear what makes the winery so special: decades of experience and a deep connection to Katsunuma meet modern cellar technology and a commitment to consistently advancing Japanese wine.
FAMILIENWEINGUT SEIT 1890
Established in 1890, Rubaiyat is now run by the fourth generation of the family. The winery focused on dry wines early on and constantly sought new ways to adapt European grape varieties and cellar technology to Japan's conditions.
KREATIVITÄT AUS NOTWENDIGKEIT
Hot summers, high humidity, and heavy rainfall make viticulture in Japan challenging. Rubaiyat responds to this with experience, technology, and a great deal of manual labor.
01 · WEINBERG
Umbrellas above the grapes protect sensitive international varieties from extreme rainfall. The native Koshu vine is better adapted to the climate; its canopy protects the grapes and allows for harvesting at a comfortable working height.
02 · KELLER
Modern tanks meet historic concrete cellars. A Swiss balloon press processes the grapes particularly gently. Old tanks were simultaneously converted into walk-in rooms and became part of the winery's history.
MEHR ALS EIN WEINGUT
Since 1988, Rubaiyat has been organizing concerts in its historic wine cellar. Amidst concrete walls, bottle storage, and repurposed tanks, a cultural venue has emerged that is in demand far beyond the region in Japan.
INTERNATIONALE ANERKENNUNG
At the G7 summit in Ise-Shima, the 2012 Rubaiyat Petit Verdot was officially served. A special recognition: The wine was part of the selection for the international heads of state and government.
DREI WEINE FÜR UNSEREN ERSTEN IMPORT
Three very different wines show how broadly Rubaiyat interprets Japanese origin – from macerated Koshu to aged Merlot.
Rubaiyat Koshu Orange 2024
Here, Koshu is aged with skin contact. Rubaiyat thus presents an independent, structured interpretation of Yamanashi's most important white grape variety.
Petit Domaine Rubaiyat 2023
A red wine made from 68% Merlot, 28% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 14 months in French oak.
Rubaiyat Merlot 2013
A mature Merlot from the 2013 vintage – and the oldest bottling in the first Rubaiyat import from NIPP•ON•VINO.
RUBAIYAT × NIPP•ON•VINO
Discover our Rubaiyat selection and find out how much pioneering spirit can be in a bottle from Yamanashi.
