Touring Miyagi Wineries with Azusa Segawa: Vol. 1 Akiu Winery

As the summer vacation season arrives, events and festivals are starting to resume across various areas after a long hiatus. We have also been seeing more and more news about summer events in the Tohoku region, which is easily accessible from Tokyo.

Speaking of Tohoku, we recently reported on the "Yamagata Wine Bar," but we had not yet covered neighboring Miyagi Prefecture.

So, our destination this time is Miyagi Prefecture!
What's more, our visit coincides perfectly with the Sendai Tanabata Festival, raising our expectations even higher.

For this trip, we are joined by Sendai native "Azusa Segawa." Active as a wine educator and in wine promotion in general, she will guide us around her local wineries in Miyagi.

Over the next three installments, we will bring you the appeal of wineries across Miyagi Prefecture.
First, we head to our initial destination, "Akiu Winery."

Accessible in about a 30-minute drive from Sendai Station, "Akiu Winery." This area is also very famous as a tourist destination for "Akiu Onsen."
We spoke with representative director Mr. Mouri about the charm of Akiu Winery and the Akiu area.

Ms. Segawa shared her comments while tasting Akiu Winery's wines.
Additionally, the shop on the premises sells various food items that pair wonderfully with wine. Mr. Mouri also introduced us to these products, which feature local ingredients.

President Mr. Mouri is also involved in various wine tourism initiatives.
In particular, the "Terroirage Tohoku" project, which he leads, is a new endeavor that provides experiences centered on food and drink across all six prefectures of Tohoku.

What did you think?
Akiu Winery's wines leave a truly soft and gentle impression, making them an outstanding match for any meal. We hope you will give them a try.

Finally, here are some closing comments from our guide, Ms. Azusa Segawa.

Beyond making delicious wine, this winery radiated a strong spirit of wanting to energize the local area and the Tohoku region through the wine industry. This was my second visit to Akiu Winery, and seeing the vineyards growing so admirably as the vines mature, along with hearing the passionate dedication of the young winemaker, makes me all the more excited for its future evolution.

The Akiu area is one of Miyagi's signature hot spring destinations. I hope you will visit the winery while sightseeing and experience the unique culinary appeal that Miyagi has to offer.

◆ Azusa Segawa Profile ◆
After graduating from university, she served as a secretary at a construction company, where she was involved in leasing and construction operations for numerous food and beverage establishments. Later, pursuing her passion, she earned qualifications related to food, wine, and sake, working as a reporter, writer, and food and beverage consultant. In 2014, she became Representative Director of Shokureco Inc., a company providing specialized services for the food and beverage industry. She also serves as an instructor at the wine school L'école du Vin, promoting a rich lifestyle through food and wine.

Shokureco Inc.
With a network of approximately 1,200 influencers specializing in food and beverage, the company proposes various promotional campaigns leveraging this network. In addition to supporting restaurants, it also focuses on supporting appealing Japanese ingredients and producers unique to Japan, actively hosting events to introduce Japanese wine to wine lovers.